Air Conditioning Not Heating

The first thing to check when an air conditioning system isn’t heating, is whether the system is receiving mains power. Power cuts, electrical faults, tripped breakers, blown fuses, deliberate and accidental electromechanical isolation can all result in the system not receiving power.

How to check that an air conditioning system is receiving power depends upon the make, model and type of system. Some indoor units make use of an indicator LED on the front or the underneath the unit to inform users that the unit is receiving power, although many systems do not have an indicator LED visible, so alternative checks will be required.

Another tip is to check whether the system is controlled by a remote controller. Should it be controlled by a hard-wired wall-mounted controller, as opposed to a wireless infra-red type, it may be possible to tell if power is present by checking if this controller is lit and operational indicating mains power is present. The same can’t be said for an infra-red wireless remote controller however, as these use batteries to power them, so will remain lit, even if the mains power is off. That said if your infra-red controller is not lit and operational, change the batteries and check again to see if the system works.

If after following the steps above, the unit shows no sign that it is receiving power, the next thing to check is if the local isolator switch, normally located close to the internal unit, is in the off position. If it is turned off, it may have been switched off accidentally but should only be switched back on if the user is certain, it wasn’t deliberately isolated to prevent damage, or by someone currently working on the system, and it being isolated for very good reason. If the isolator is in the on position but the system is not receiving power, it generally suggests that the air conditioning system has developed a fault and will need to be inspected by a qualified engineer.

Should you feel that you need further advice or to book a repair, contact us today.

The next thing to check is whether the system is set to the correct operational mode. It may sound obvious, but all air conditioning systems need to be set to heating or automatic mode (switches between cooling and heating automatically) and the correct temperature set.

How to check that an air conditioning system is set to heating mode depends upon where and what type of system control is installed. Controller types vary but most systems are normally controlled by means of a hard-wired wall-mounted controller, a wireless hand-held remote, a centralised controller or building management system (BMS).

Once the system controller has been located, check it is set to heating, (usually designated by a sun icon on the system’s remote) and ensure it is set to the highest possible temperature, for testing. You can also do this in automatic mode, although we recommend it is set to heating when checking heating performance, as this will eliminate any setting variations with automatic modes.

If after following the above steps and leaving the system to operate for approximately thirty minutes, the air conditioning system isn’t blowing out warm air, it may suggest that the system has developed a fault and will need to be inspected by an engineer. Should you feel that you need further advice or that you need to book a repair, contact us today.

Leaving doors and windows open can greatly reduce the effectiveness of an air conditioning system, causes the system to work harder, decreases energy efficiency and increase the costs associated with running the system.

To maximise the heating effects of an air conditioning system, it makes sense to ensure that all doors and windows are securely closed whilst the system is in operation.

If, after closing all doors and windows for a period of time and carrying out all previous checks within this guide and your system still fails to perform, it may suggest that the system has a fault and will need to be inspected by an engineer. Should you need further advice or to book an engineer visit, contact us today for details.

When an air conditioning system has been switched off for longer than usual, the ambient temperature within the space to be heated will decrease, especially during the winter. Taking this into consideration, it will inevitably take the air conditioning system longer to heat the area given that the fabric of the room and its contents will have decreased in temperature, needing to be warmed up to the desired temperature. Temperature stability can often take much longer than people perceive, so please give the system ample time to compensate and heat the space to the required temperature.

After considering the above should you feel that the system is still failing to heat as required, please contact us for further advice or to book an engineer visit.

Neglected air conditioning servicing and maintenance will lead to a gradual buildup of dust and dirt on filters, coils and system components. Furthermore, neglected servicing is one of the most common causes of air conditioning systems not heating.

To prevent this and other potential problems, it’s advisable to have your air conditioning system serviced at regular intervals, taking advice on the frequency and level of service required, based on the environment the equipment is installed into.

For further advice regarding air conditioning servicing, servicing intervals, or if you would like to book a service call, contact us today.