The occurrence of a power outage is rather common, especially in heavily populated areas such as large cities.
With that said, many homeowners have been experiencing issues with their AC units following a power outage, which should come as no surprise since power outages can damage many electrically powered devices in your home.
Luckily, you have found this guide in which we will help you narrow down the root of the problem and tell you how to also fix the said issue.
Why is AC Not Cooling After Power Outage?
As previously mentioned, a power outage can cause a number of different issues with your electronically powered devices.
This is not only because a power outage causes an immediate and abrupt cut of the power supply, but it is also because the power outage can cause a surge of power to the devices in your home.
This especially applies to devices that are plugged into electrical outlets within or in your home.
Typically the circuit breaker will take the majority of the power surge; however, it cannot always protect every other appliance or device in your household.
With that said, the power surge that can potentially follow after a power outage can cause damage to your AC and HVAC unit.
This is because the power supply for your AC or HVAC unit requires a consistent influx of power; however, when there is a power outage and a subsequential power surge, the incoming power is not a flow.
Instead, the power surges into a much higher voltage, which can overload wires, the electrical outlet, or even the AC unit’s capacitor. Any one of these can be problematic for your AC and HVAC unit, which is why it is good to take future precautions to avoid this from occurring in the next power outage.
A good method to utilize so you can avoid this kind of damage from occurring the next time there is a power outage is to invest in a voltage stabilizer (view on Amazon) unit.
A power stabilizer unit will do what the name implies, the unit will notice when there are fluctuations in the power supply and it will also internally balance this fluctuation so that the flow of power will remain consistent.
This will also work for when the stabilizer unit notices that a device is receiving too low of a voltage, which it will then adjust the voltage accordingly. The power stabilizer may be a bit on the costly side but it could potentially save you a lot of dough in the future.
1. Check The Power Supply For AC Unit
After a power outage has occurred, one of the first things you will want to check is the power supply for the AC unit. The power supply for an AC unit is absolutely essential in order for the unit to work properly.
With this in mind, you will want to make sure that the AC unit is indeed still receiving power.
A good sign that there is power still flowing into the AC unit typically is the light(s) on the unit should be lit up or you may hear signs of power such as whooshing noises or otherwise. These are both good signs that the AC unit is still receiving power.
However, you may be checking your AC unit and come to the realization that the unit is not receiving any power, which brings us to the following solution.
Fix – Reset Your AC Unit
If there has recently been a power outage and you believe that your AC unit is not showing any signs of receiving power, then you will want to try resetting the unit.
Now, it should be noted that you will need to make sure that there is power being produced from the outlet or power bar you are using for the AC unit.
A good way to make sure there is power being provided to the outlet you have chosen is to flip the switch for that outlet or general area of your home by using the circuit breaker.
Typically the circuit breaker will have general labels for which switch controls what areas of your home.
However, if your circuit breaker does not have labels for the individual switches then you can simply turn the main switch off and then back on.
This will effectively turn off every outlet in your home and then by turning it back on these outlets will receive power once again.
After you have flipped the switch on the circuit breaker off and back on, then you can return to the AC unit and attempt to turn it on by pressing the power button.
If it does turn on, this is a good sign; however, to reset the unit, you will want to turn it off again and let it sit for around 5 to 10 minutes.
Once the appropriate time has passed, you can turn the AC unit back on and this will effectively reset the unit, then you can also turn on the cooling system. This method should get your AC unit back to a functioning state.
2. Inspect The AC’s Capacitor
If you have recently experienced a power outage and your AC unit is not working properly or is not even turning on, then the unit’s capacitor could be broken.
Unfortunately, when there is a power outage, the capacitor on an AC unit is one of the most vulnerable parts. Also, it is quite unfortunate that the AC unit cannot and will not function after the capacitor goes out on the unit.
This means there is no quick simple “fix” to get the unit to work with a faulty or blown capacitor, which also means you will have to replace the capacitor.
Fix – Replace The Capacitor
While it may not be the most fun thing to do, if the capacitor on your AC unit is broken after a power outage, you will need to replace the capacitor.
This is because the capacitor on your AC unit plays a critical role in the starting process of the AC unit. The capacitor essentially provides a rush of electricity that it has built up so that your AC unit’s motor will start up properly.
Unfortunately, many companies will charge an arm and a leg to replace a capacitor on your AC unit, which is why it may be the better option to DIY this project.
A typical capacitor should only cost around $40.00 to purchase. Also, by doing it yourself, you will be saving a fair amount of money since some services will charge you up to 300 dollars for the simple replacement of an AC capacitor.
You can find many reliable YouTube videos that will show you how to replace the capacitor; however, you should always be cautious when working with electrical units such as your AC unit.
3. Inspect The Wiring on The Unit
Another part of your AC unit that can become damaged during a power outage is the wiring of the unit.
Since power outages cause electrical fluctuations, these fluctuations can certainly damage not just the wiring for the AC unit but it can also damage the wiring inside of your home. Damaged wiring is never good.
Fix – Call an Electrician
As previously stated, damaged wires are never a good thing. However, damaged wires are also very dangerous to work with if you do not know what you are doing. This means the best course of action is to get a licensed electrician to check and fix the possibly damaged wires.
4. It Could Be The Motor
When you have recently experienced a power outage and your AC unit is not working properly, it could very well be an issue with the motor of the unit.
You can visualize the motor of the AC unit as the heart, which means you will want to make sure the motor is functioning correctly.
Fix – Repair/Replace The Fan Motor or Hire Professional
Now, if there is an issue with the fan motor on your AC unit, the fan will need to be repaired or replaced.
You can opt to repair or replace an AC fan motor on your own; however, it is advisable to get a professional to repair or replace the AC fan motor. If you were to do it yourself, you risk doing the wires for the unit improperly.
5. Your AC May Be Dead
There is the possibility that your AC unit may have seen its last power outage. As we previously mentioned, a power outage can be followed by a power surge, which could have been enough to bring down your AC unit for the last time. This applies especially if you have had your AC unit for a long time.
Fix – Purchase New AC Unit
If you believe that your AC unit has finally blown its final cool breeze, then you will likely have to purchase a new AC or HVAC unit. Luckily, you can find many AC and HVAC units for a reasonable price on Amazon or at your local appliance store.
AC units are essential for almost every home, especially in the warm weather seasons such as summer and spring. Not only that but they are also helpful in the sense that they can also help to provide fresh air into your home.
This is what makes it all the more troublesome when you have a power outage and your AC will not work after; however, with this guide, you should have no issues narrowing down the root of the problem and finding a fix for the said issue.
