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Living in Pennsylvania, we are all familiar with the power outages every day. In fact, the state ranked fifth in the United States for weather-related power outages. It hurts everyday routines, including HVAC units. Many times, our completely fine HVAC system stops working after a power outage. This is what creates complete chaos.
Homeowners in Pennsylvania are not fully aware of the causes of why their functional AC or furnace just failed when the power was restored. And today, we will walk you through what to do when your HVAC stops working after a power outage. The guide is specifically designed for residential HVAC customers in Pennsylvania.
Your HVAC system shuts down immediately when there is a power outage. It is normal and usually causes no harm to the HVAC system. The problem arises when the power is restored suddenly. At this point, all HVAC components suddenly restart their heating or cooling operations. Often, it creates power surges that overload critical HVAC components, potentially damaging the compressor and electrical boards.
A power surge hits all components equally. Some survive while others fail to withstand and stop working. The following are possible causes.
Your HVAC was running smoothly before the power was cut off. When the power is restored, it is now not willing to optimize the temperature for you. This is what most customers experience. Here is what to do if the same happens to you.
Access the box located outside, which houses the circuit breaker for your HVAC. Open it and check if the circuit breaker is in the “OFF” position. If it is tripped, turn it back to on and turn your HVAC on. It should ideally make your HVAC start working. If the breaker trips again or switching it to “On” doesn’t restore normal HVAC operations, something is wrong with other HVAC parts.
The thermostat might be the next culprit if the circuit breaker itself is not. Inspect the thermostat completely. Any sign of incorrect temperature reading, blank display, or complete irresponsiveness means the issue is with the thermostat. Reset the thermostat, connect with Wi-Fi again, and check if the system works normally now. You can also try replacing batteries (for battery-operated models) or changing their placement to check if it works. If your thermostat is working appropriately, move on to the next possible causes.
There is a possibility that your HVAC stopped working due to a lack of maintenance, and you are mistakenly associating it with the power surge. It might be a coincidence that the system stopped working while the power was cut off. So, the best thing after checking the thermostat and circuit breaker is to take a look at maintenance. Remember the last time you scheduled professional maintenance. If it has been over a year since maintenance, you should schedule professional maintenance service at your earliest convenience. Additionally, check for air filters, clogged drain lines, and blockages near the outdoor unit, and apply fixes if you find out the culprit.
If you checked all the aforementioned factors and none was working, it is time to seek professional help. The following are some common scenarios when calling a professional truly makes sense.
If you are from Pennsylvania and stuck with this power outage issue, Lehigh HVAC is here to help. Contact us today, and we will restore your functional, optimal-efficiency unit in a single visit.
