AC not cooling? 7 checks before you call a technician
An AC that runs but won’t cool is the most common summer call-out in Dhaka. Some causes you can fix in five minutes. Others need a technician, and knowing which saves you money.
1. Check the mode and temperature
Make sure the remote says Cool, not Fan or Dry, and that the set temperature is below the room temperature. Swap the remote batteries if the display is faint.
2. Clean the indoor filters
Open the front panel and slide out the mesh filters. If they’re grey with dust, wash them in plain water, let them dry and refit them. A blocked filter can halve cooling.
3. Look at the outdoor unit
The outdoor unit needs air. Plastic sheets, bird nests or boxes stacked against it make it overheat. Its fan should spin when the AC is cooling.
4. Watch the voltage
Low voltage during load-shedding or on an IPS can stop the compressor while the indoor fan keeps blowing. If cooling returns when the power is steady, a stabiliser may help.
5. Ice on the pipes
Frost on the copper pipes or the indoor coil usually means low gas or very poor airflow. Switch the AC off and let it thaw; running it iced up can damage the compressor.
6. Water dripping indoors
This is nearly always a blocked drain pipe or a tilted indoor unit, not low gas. Ask for a drain clean, not a refill.
7. Noise, smell or tripping
A burning smell, loud grinding or a breaker that trips when the AC starts are signs to stop using it and call a technician straight away.
When to call a technician
If you’ve done checks 1 to 3 and it still won’t cool, post the job. Typical prices on Mistri:
Before a gas refill, ask the technician to show you the pressure reading. A healthy AC shouldn’t need gas every year; if it does, there’s a leak to fix first.