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HVAC BOSS

Why GE Air Conditioner Not Cooling?

Your GE air conditioner might not be cooling if the settings are not right, the air filter or the coils are dirty, the indoor temperature is too low, or if there is something wrong with the compressor, sensor, or control panel.

To fix the issue, you would have to:

  1. Check the settings of the unit.
  2. Make sure that it’s properly sized for the room
  3. Clear the area around the AC.
  4. Replace the filter and clean the coils.
  5. Restart the unit.

Below, you will find easy-to-follow instructions to guide you through each step. You’ll also discover when it’s the right time to shut the unit down and call a professional. 

Why GE Air Conditioner Not Cooling?

The heat mode is turned on

The majority of GE air conditioners work as heat pumps which means that they have both a heat and a cool mode. Your AC won’t be cooling if it’s not set to ‘cool mode’.

A clogged air filter

One of the most common reasons for an air conditioner that is failing to cool is a dirty air filter. If that’s the case, the air won’t be able to properly flow through the unit and the cooling capacity will be reduced.

Furthermore, a clogged filter can make the coils freeze. Eventually, the AC might overheat and even break down.

Read: Why Window AC Full Of Water After The Rain?

Dirty condenser coils

It doesn’t really matter what air conditioner you have. Every cooling system has condenser and evaporator coils and they need to be cleaned from time to time.

The refrigerant (the substance that is responsible for cooling your space) runs through the coils. So, if they are dirty, the heat won’t be able to dissipate as effectively, and the unit would end up overworking.

Read: Which Is Better, A Portable Air Conditioner Or A Window Unit AC?

Issues with the control panel

The control panel regulates the voltage to the fan motor and the compressor. If this essential element is malfunctioning, the AC will fail to cool the room or might not turn on at all.

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The control panel can fail if there has been an electrical fault.

A defective compressor

The compressor is the element of the cooling system that circulates the refrigerant. It can fail due to dirty coils, low refrigerant levels, or electrical problems. Thankfully, issues with the compressor are not as common.

Read: How Much Does A Window AC Unit Increase Your Electric Bill?

Low indoor or outdoor temperature

For the air conditioner to start cooling, the indoor temperature should reach a set point. The thermostat might not turn the unit on if the room is already cool.

By the way, if the outdoor temperature is below 70 degrees, the cooling capacity of the unit will be reduced as well.

Issues with one of the sensors

Your GE air conditioner can have a thermistor or a temperature control thermostat. The main job of both of these elements is to monitor the temperature of the air and ‘tell’ the cooling unit to switch on as soon as the temperature goes above a set point.

If the thermistor or thermostat has gone bad, then AC will not get activated.

Read: Can Black Mold Grow In Window Air Conditioners?  

A faulty capacitor

A capacitor is an element that is attached to the compressor with electrical leads. If it burns out, the compressor will stop working as well, and, as a result, you will have no cool air.

How to Fix GE Air Conditioner Not Cooling?

The following guide will help you fix an air con that is not cooling or at least figure out the root cause of the problem.

Step 1

The first thing that you should do is check the settings of your unit. Ensure that the AC is set to cool mode and that the indoor and outdoor temperature is high enough to activate the unit.

If your AC has a knob (mechanical dial control), then, in order to provide maximum cooling, it should be set to the highest setting. The models with electronic controls will effectively cool the room if the temperature has been set to a lower setting.

By the way, if you switched the air conditioner on when it was boiling hot in the room, it will take the unit longer to bring the space to the desired temperature. So, in some cases, all you need to do is give the air-con a bit more time.  

Read: Can You Run A Window AC In The Rain?

Step 2

Make sure that the unit is properly sized for the room.

An oversized air conditioner will be short-cycling which, in its turn, will leave your room with hot and cold spots. An undersized unit will fail to effectively cool the space.

Find the BTU rating of your air conditioner and calculate the square footage of the room. In general, a cooling unit needs 20 BTUs per square foot.

Step 3

Make sure that there is nothing blocking your air conditioner.

Curtains, furniture, or other items might be restricting the unit’s airflow, and this will affect the cooling. Have at least one foot of clear space on each side of the air con.

Step 4

Check the air filter.

How often you would have to change the filter will depend on a lot of factors, but, typically, manufacturers recommended going for a new filter or cleaning the old one every 30-90 days.

If you haven’t changed the element for over 3 months, the unit might fail to cool the space as the airflow will be restricted by the clogged filter.

Step 5 

Check the coils.

Frozen coils can decrease the cooling capacity of your air-con or prevent it from functioning altogether. The unit can freeze up, if the air filter or the evaporator coils are dirty or if the AC’s refrigerant levels are low.

By the way, during the winter months, removing your window AC unit is recommended as it might get damaged.

If the coils are not covered in ice, you have to make sure that they are not dirty as well. Ideally, you would want to clean the unit monthly and deep clean the AC at the beginning and end of each season.

How to Reset a GE Air Conditioner?

If the settings of your AC are correct, nothing is blocking the unit, and the air filter and coils look fine, then you can try resetting the air con. Sometimes, the electrical components of the cooling system need a reboot in order to start effectively cooling again.

  • If your unit has an on/off button, simply turn the AC off, wait for 5 minutes, and turn it back on. This should be enough to restart the system.
  • If your air conditioner does not have such a button, you can reboot the unit by unplugging it.
  • Some GE air conditioners have a reset button right on the power cord plug. All you would have to do in such a case is hold the button for 5 seconds. If the button is constantly popping up, then turn the AC off and call a technician.

Final Thoughts

Usually, you’ll be able to fix a GE air conditioner that’s not cooling by simply double-checking the settings, replacing the filter, and cleaning the coils. If none of the tips mentioned above has helped, then it looks like there is a more serious problem with your cooling unit. If there is something wrong with the capacitor, compressor, sensor, or control panel, it is better to call an HVAC technician.

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