I Had a Power Outage & My Air Conditioner Doesn't Work

Compressor

• If your air conditioner fails to turn on after a power outage or power surge, twist the power control to "Off" or move the power switch to "Off." Unplug the unit, and allow five seconds to pass before you plug it back in. After the unit is plugged in, allow three minutes to pass before you turn the unit back on. When the internal compressor senses an overload, it automatically shuts off. After the unit has been reset with a power disconnection and reconnection, the compressor requires a three-minute waiting period to prevent overloading.

Plug

• When the air conditioner won't turn on after a power surge, confirm that the power cord is properly connected. Unplug it and plug it back in firmly. Inspect the insulation around the cord from top to bottom for damage, such as burns, rips or tears. If the power cord is damaged, replace it. Similarly, confirm that the power cord isn't kinked or pinched as this might cause internal damage to the cord.

Reset

• Once the unit has been plugged in and unplugged, press the red "Reset" button on the plug. The button should sink in with a slight click and pop back out. Wait three minutes and turn the air conditioner on. The plug features a current interrupter device, which protects the air conditioner unit from power surges and lightning strikes. If the current interrupter device is tripped, electricity is prevented from flowing to the air conditioner system. After the device is reset, the air conditioner will work again.

Breaker

• If the plug reset fails to reactivate the air conditioner, open the breaker box door and locate the breaker that's in charge of the area of the house that powers the air conditioner. Inspect the state of the breaker switch. If the switch is in the middle or "Off" position, flip the switch over to "On." Even if the breaker is in the "On" position, move it to "Off" and then back to "On" to reset the connection. Turn the air conditioner back on.