TROUBLESHOOTING · REVIEWED NOVEMBER 2, 2026

AC running but not cooling? Start with a better next step.

Educational planning guidance. Not a remote diagnosis, emergency service or engineering assessment.

First, check for urgent warning signs.

If there is a gas odor, smoke, sparks or a carbon monoxide alarm, leave the area and contact emergency services or your gas utility from a safe location. An online tool cannot clear an unsafe system.

Record what you can observe safely.

Note the thermostat mode, set point, any displayed message, when the problem started and which rooms are affected. Avoid opening electrical panels or attempting refrigerant or combustion work.

Ask for the cause, not just a replacement recommendation.

Ask the professional to document the diagnostic findings, the proposed repair and the replacement alternative. Installation quality, airflow and duct conditions matter to performance; a cooling complaint does not identify the failed part by itself.

Build one useful handoff.

Bring your indoor and outdoor model numbers, symptom timeline and prior service information. SAVPWR can help organize these questions, but final diagnosis requires appropriate measurements.

Keep reading

Repair or replace? Ask for evidence before deciding. · Two HVAC quotes: are they actually the same job? · Understand a heat pump’s running costs before you compare. · Why is one room always warmer? Start with the distribution.