• Thunder, lightning, then AC went off

    Aug.16.2011

    There was thunder and lightning and my air conditioning went off. The digital thermometer was blank. My husband went to the closet and reset the breakers. The thermostat went on and the AC started and it was on "auto." He tried to lower the thermostat to 76, but it popped to 82. Really we are not sure we know how to set the thermostat. Then the AC went off. My husband went back to the breakers and reset it and put the thermo on "On." Now the AC has been running for a long time. Should the thermostat show a digital reading when "on" and should it go lower from 82 degrees after some time? Do you think we are okay or do we have an issue? What is the correct way to set the digital thermostat? Does "on" just mean like "fan" in your car, or it should be like "auto" cool air?

    LUZ, TAMPA, FL

    The “on” setting of the digital thermostat is for the fan to run continuously inside. The outdoor unit will cycle off and on as needed based on the thermostat setting. When in the “auto” position the indoor fan will cycle off and on with a call for cooling outside from the thermostat. When you first push the up or down setting on a digital thermostat, it will show you the current temperature setting. As you push the up or down arrows, the thermostat shows the new temperature setting. After you leave it alone for a few seconds, it will “pop” to what is the actual temperature the thermostat is reading. Make sure that the SYSTEM setting is set for AC, as some thermostats will reset back to manufacturer pre-determined settings. I would suggest that if the breaker for the air handler was tripped, you should also check the breaker for the outdoor unit if it is a split system. The first breaker is a concern as well if it tripped a second time after you reset it. I suggest you contact a qualified technician, like the ARS/Rescue Rooter in Tampa Bay, FL at (727) 588-4200 to check out your system to ensure that all parts are working correctly since it did trip the breaker.

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