The AC won't turn on: what to check before you call
When the air conditioning won't turn on, it almost never starts with an expensive fault. First check the remote and its batteries, then whether the unit is getting power, and last how it's set: mode, temperature and the pause the compressor takes after being switched off. You can check all of that without opening anything or climbing a ladder.
Step 1 of 3
You press the button on the remote. What does the indoor unit do?
Watch for three things at once: whether it beeps, whether any light comes on at the front of the unit and whether the flap at the bottom moves. That tells us which way to go. If the unit blows normally but the air comes out lukewarm, that's a different fault with its own test.
Why the air conditioning won't turn on
When an air conditioner won't turn on, most of the time there's nothing wrong with the unit. What fails most, in order, is the remote's batteries, a tripped breaker in the fuse box and a remote set wrong: fan mode, a temperature higher than the room or a forgotten timer. Only once all that is ruled out is it time to think about the circuit board, the capacitor or the outdoor unit.
How to tell if it's the remote or the unit
Swap the batteries for new ones. If in doubt, point the remote at your phone's camera and press a button: if you see a light flashing at the tip on the screen, the remote is sending a signal. Some units have a power button on the front, under the cover; if yours has one, use it to find out once and for all whether the problem is the remote.
The three-minute wait after switching off
Many units won't restart the compressor straight after being switched off, to protect it. TCL's technical support puts it like this: at least three minutes must pass before it can be switched on again. Switching it off and on in quick succession makes it look as if the air con isn't responding, when it's only waiting.
If the breaker trips or an error code appears
If the air con's breaker trips when you switch it on, leave it down and don't keep trying: it could be the compressor, the circuit board or the line. If the power goes in the whole flat, the power keeps tripping test helps you narrow the problem down. A code on the display or a flashing light is the unit warning you about a specific fault. Each brand has its own table, so note down the code and the model before calling anyone. And if the unit turns on but doesn't cool, there's another test: the AC isn't cooling.
What we do
Tell us on WhatsApp or through the form what the unit is doing, with the brand, the model and, if one appears, the error code. We give you a fixed price in writing, usually in under two hours, and an independent professional who works with us comes to your home. We cover Valencia city and l'Horta.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't the air conditioning respond to the remote?
It's nearly always the batteries. The remote keeps showing numbers with half-flat batteries, but the signal no longer reaches the unit properly. Put in new batteries and use your phone's camera to check whether the small light at the tip shows when you press a button. If the remote is sending and the unit doesn't react, check the air con's breaker in the fuse box.
Is it normal for the air con to take a few minutes to start?
Yes. After being switched off, many units wait a few minutes before restarting the compressor, to protect it. TCL's support pages mention at least three minutes. It also takes longer if it's on fan mode or if you ask for a temperature higher than the room: in that case the outdoor compressor doesn't even start.
What does the error code on the air con's display mean?
It's the unit itself warning you about a fault it has detected, but each brand has its own table and the same code doesn't mean the same thing on two different brands. Note down the exact code or how many times the light flashes, take a photo of the sticker with the model and look it up in the manual. Don't open the casing to check anything.
Can I open the unit to see what's wrong?
Better not. Inside there's a circuit board and capacitors that hold a charge even when the unit is off, and the outdoor unit contains the gas circuit, which only someone with an F-gas certificate can touch. What you can do is wash the filters, clear the outdoor grille and check the remote and the breaker.