How To Manually Turn On Your AC Unit – A DIY Guide
It’s the middle of summer, and your air conditioner isn’t working like it should be – again! Is there anything worse than coming home from work to an unbearably hot apartment? You want to turn your AC manually but don’t know how to do it.
I also did not know how to turn AC manually on because I always had a split AC that I used to turn on with the help of a remote. A cousin of mine guided me so I was finally able to turn the AC on by myself.
While it’s tempting to call the handyman, you can save yourself some money by repairing your own AC unit instead. Here’s how to manually turn on your AC unit, and save yourself some money in the process!
The Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes that people make when trying to manually turn on their AC unit is not knowing where the unit is. It may be in a backyard shed, attic, or even an unheated porch in freezing temperatures.
The most important thing to keep in mind when you’re manually turning on your air conditioner is safety. This can be accomplished by using a stepladder or ladder and wearing appropriate footwear such as work boots, rubber gloves, and safety goggles.
After climbing up to the unit or pulling it out from the wall, disconnect it from any power sources and read any warnings that might be listed there.
Turning off the main breaker for your home will prevent electrocution if you happen to come into contact with wiring while turning on your air conditioner.
Determine if the thermostat is set at a higher temperature
If you’re in a hurry, your first step is to check the thermostat. Make sure that it’s set to cool and not to heat and then try turning on the unit again.
Otherwise, skip straight ahead to step two. But make sure that the temperature inside the house or apartment matches what’s being set on the thermostat before concluding that it’s a problem with how it operates.
Try To Use an extension cord if you have it
Extension cords are essential for running an extension cord from the room where your breaker box is to the rooms with windows. It doesn’t have to be a specific type of extension cord, but make sure it’s rated for at least three times the required amperage or higher (so if you need a 20 amp extension cord, go with a 40 amp).
You can also use a long wire coat hanger and some electrical tape to get by in a pinch. Simply poke one end of the wire through the hole in your electrical socket, and then fish around on the other side for live wires.
Stick your wire all the way up until you hear them snap, which will either turn on an air conditioner or cause an electric shock that won’t hurt anything.
Check your switches and fuses
To get your power back on, you’ll need to go outside and find the breaker box. Look for a silver or blue box that has breakers in it. If you can’t find it, try looking for one with a large number of wire connections coming out of it. Once you’ve found the breaker box, start flipping each breaker switch on one by one.
It’s important that you do not skip any switches or turn them off when they are turned on as doing so could result in electrocution. Do this until all the switches are flipped and then wait at least 15 minutes before turning any devices back on (unless instructed otherwise).
Go outside and manually flip the breaker switch
This process can be hard and dangerous, especially if you are not properly educated on which breaker to flip. So make sure you know what breaker to flip before attempting this yourself.
Once you find the right breaker, use a flathead screwdriver or similar tool and try flipping it as fast as possible. If it does not turn off immediately, try flipping it again just to make sure that the power has been successfully cut off.
How to turn on ac thermostat
If you don’t have power at your thermostat, it won’t work. If you’re not comfortable with electrical work or don’t want to do it yourself, contact a professional electrician.
1) Make sure the power is off before making any changes to the wires. Also to your circuit board in your HVAC system. You can turn off the power by flipping the switch on the breaker panel, or switching off the fuse if you’ve got an older fuse box.
2) Remove safety tabs from the circuit breaker switches.
How to turn on the air conditioner manually in the apartment
To turn on your air conditioner manually, you’ll need to locate the emergency switch. This is usually a round button in the center of the control panel. But check your manual provided with the AC if you’re not sure. You may also find it by flipping off your breaker switch or power strip that plugs into a wall outlet and looking at the instructions for each outlet.
Once you’ve found it, push the emergency switch to turn on your air conditioner. Remember, don’t use this method as a long-term solution for air conditioning troubles; it’s not good for your unit and could damage it permanently!
FAQ’s
How to turn on my AC unit?
If your ac unit will not turn on, the first thing you should do is to check for any visible signs of damage to the outdoor unit. If there is no obvious damage, then look inside the outside unit and find the fuse box. Inside this box are fuses that can keep your ac units from turning on.
Try flipping a few switches until you find one that causes your air conditioner to work again. It may be a good idea to replace any blown fuses with fresh one just in case it stops working again later on down the road.
We hope this guide has been helpful for you, and please feel free to contact us if you have any more questions!
How do I turn on my air conditioner without a controller?
If you need to manually turn on your air conditioner because it doesn’t have a remote or a digital controller, there are a few simple steps you can take. The most important thing is to start with the power box located near the unit. After that make sure that the breaker hasn’t tripped.
If the breaker tripped, reset it with an in-line switch or by flipping it back on at the main panel. You will also want to verify that you’re using a circuit. It should be capable of handling heavy electrical loads like air conditioning units. If everything checks out, grab an extension cord with heavy gauge wire.
How can I use my phone as an AC remote?
It is not too difficult to set up your phone as an air conditioner remote control. For Android users, simply install the app called Honeywell Remote on your device.
After installing the app, open it and it will automatically search for any nearby Honeywell WiFi thermostats with a connection that allows guest users. Select the one you want to use and enter your WiFi password if prompted.
Also read: How To Turn On Toshiba Air Conditioner – DIY Guide
Conclusion
When you know what you’re doing, turning on your AC by yourself without a remote is not too complicated. The first step is to determine which circuit breaker controls the unit. That’s a quick fix as long as you know where your breaker box is located.
You’ll also need to open your breaker box and find the right breaker by matching the one on your electrical panel. These will be labeled for your unit in the mechanical room or fusebox outside.
If there are multiple units at the same location and they’re all turned off, then finding which breaker controls which unit can be a challenge unless someone tells you or labels them in some way.
