It is not rare for AC and HVAC units to get damaged after a power surge and power outage.
Especially if you don’t have electricity stabilizers installed in your house. Even though they can be a bit on the pricey side, it is always better to be safe and protect devices in your home.
So, just spend a few extra bucks and grab yourself a power stabilizer unit. That way, you won’t have to worry as much about electrical issues with the unit.
It all comes down to securing a consistent power flow to the unit.
Similarly, some owners like to install backup battery units as well. They might be a bit more costly, but you won’t have to worry about random power outages.
How to Fix AC Unit Won’t Turn On After Power Outage?
So, be sure to check your budget if you run into issues with the power outage.
Different problems can cause your AC unit to stop working after a power outage.
As long as the issue is not serious, you can get your AC to start working after following the different troubleshooting steps mentioned in this article.
- Check Capacitor
Usually, during a power outage or surge, this is the first thing that gets damaged.
Sadly, there is no way to get your AC unit to start working if the capacitor is not working. It is a small device that you can find attached to the external unit.
Luckily, it is quite easy for users to replace a faulty capacitor themselves, and that will get the AC unit to start working again.
Some companies can charge you a lot of money just to replace the capacitor on your AC unit.
This is why everyone prefers to do it themselves; A standard capacitor can cost you around 40 dollars.
While service can bill you for up to 300 dollars for this simple task.
If you don’t know how to change the capacitor, then there are some great tutorials available on YouTube that you can follow.
Just open up the tutorial with millions of views, and you’ll be able to get a replacement capacitor without much trouble.
Make sure to put your safety first and follow all the guidelines provided in the tutorial.
- Power Cycle Unit One More Time
At this point, you need to check the condition of the hardware to further isolate the issue.
You won’t be able to get through this error if the issue is more related to the programming side of things.
So, if you’re sure that the power output from the source is optimal, a simple power cycle will do the job.
All you’re trying to do here is remove the power one more time from the unit and leave it isolated for a few minutes.
After waiting for around 20 minutes, you can power up the unit one more time. From there, you will have to wait a bit more to isolate these errors.
Once the AC unit has enough time to power up, you can try to engage the cooling system.
If everything goes well, you won’t have to worry about anything after resupplying power to the unit. It all comes down to how you’re planning on maneuvering through the situation.
- Fix The Wiring
Fixing the wiring is the next best thing that can be done here. Most of the time, power outages do bring voltage fluctuations that can damage the wiring cluster.
If the wiring installed in your house has not been serviced for a few months, then you need to check its condition.
Most of the time, you should avoid messing with the wiring connections yourself. Even if you have a bit of experience here, calling an electrician will be a better option.
There are just too many reports on how owners electrocuted themselves while trying to fix the connection.
So, to keep yourself on the safer end, we suggest that you don’t mess with the wiring connections and call in an expert.
He will be a bit heavy on your budget, but you’ll surely be able to get through the wiring errors in no time.
Ideally, you should get the unit serviced at least once every year or every six months. Either way, you have to get the device fixed by addressing the errors with the wiring cluster.
- Check Voltage Issues From The Source
Even after the outage, the voltage from the source is sometimes not optimal. You can narrow down this issue by checking the main source one more time.
However, if you’re still not sure about the issue, we suggest that you use a voltmeter or a multimeter.
Again, it will be better if this job is left to the professionals. There is no telling how severe the damage can be to the AC unit, and you need expert support to isolate these errors.
So, instead of wasting more time trying to save a few bucks, hire a local professional.
He will cost you a few bucks, but you will be able to save the AC unit with his help. This is especially true if the circuitry is fried and you’re not sure about how to fix these errors.
So, if you’ve not been able to fix the issue and it seems to be hardware related, get help from locals.
Otherwise, you can also attempt to reset the unit to fix any hardware issues that might still impact your system.
- Reset AC Unit
If you’re lucky, then the power outage might not have damaged any vital components of the AC unit.
There is a high probability that your AC will start working after you reset the unit. The reset procedure may vary depending on which brand of AC unit you have installed in your house.
We will cover a general procedure, but you should always refer to the manual for your specific device brand to reset the unit without issues.
Start by disconnecting the power from your unit for around 60 seconds. After that, you can use the reset button located on the unit to get the unit to reset.
You can also try resetting the thermostat before resetting the actual unit itself.
Even though chances are low, it is still possible that your AC unit is malfunctioning because the thermostat is not working properly.
So, make sure to reset both devices to increase the probability of fixing the given error.
You can use the beaker to power cycle the unit by flipping them off and then back on.
- Check Motor
It is also possible for the fan motor on your AC unit to malfunction after a power outage. If you don’t hear the motor working on your external unit, then this might also be the case for you.
You can try replacing the motor yourself, but we suggest that you get a professional to help you out.
The process is not simple, and you can damage the wiring of your AC unit if you don’t do it correctly.
For some service providers, the warranty covers this issue, so make sure to reach out to your service provider to get the issue fixed ASAP.
If you don’t have a warranty on the unit, then you should hire a professional to take a look at your AC system.
He will be able to identify the problem with the AC and also check your wiring management.
If you have a voltmeter, you can also do it yourself to check whether or not your AC is drawing enough power.
Match the reading on your voltmeter with the voltage required by the unit to verify.
It is still rare for your motor fan to get damaged after a power surge. So, make sure to first check the capacitor on your compressor before moving onward with other troubleshooting steps.
Hopefully, your unit will start working after replacing the capacitor.
- Ask Official Support
Lastly, there is no shame in asking the official support team to help you out.
Most of the brands offer exceptional services to the customers, and the same might be true for the AC brand that you own. So, you need to reach out to the official support team.
All you have to do here is to underscore the situation with the hardware and have these professionals guide you through the issue.
Most of the time, that will be it, and the official team will take you through the intricate details of the troubleshooting process.
Wrapping Up
If you’re lucky, the fix will be as simple as adjusting the wiring and power cycling the unit.
However, that can’t be said if the unit is in poor shape. So, be sure to check the hardware for issues if you can’t seem to figure out the problem.
Most of the time, the warranty is valid for decent brands, and forwarding a claim will help you secure a fresh piece.