Troubleshooting Guide

Air Conditioning Checklist | Gas Furnace Checklist | Pre-Service Checklist

Simple solutions to attempt before calling your Carrier dealer

If you experience any trouble with your Carrier products or system, you may always call your Carrier dealer for help and service. But here are a few simple solutions you can attempt before calling your expert Carrier dealer to your home for a service visit.

Air Conditioning Equipment Checklist

• Check to make sure that your thermostat is set in the "cool" position.
• Ensure that your outdoor air conditioning (condensing unit) is running:
  
  1. Check the circuit breakers in the circuit breaker box (or electrical panel), most likely mounted to an outside wall in the back of the house. Are they in the "On" position?
  2. Check the outdoor unit "disconnect switch" to make sure it is in the "ON" position. The disconnect switch is located near the outdoor unit. (Typically a grey 8" wide x 16" high x 4" deep box mounted to the wall).
  3. Ensure that the blower motor in your furnace is running. (If the thermostat is in the "cool" position, the furnace blower should be running.)
  4. If not, check to make sure the on / off switch at the furnace is in the "ON" position
• Be sure that you have changed your filter in the furnace recently. 
• An extremely blocked filter can cause your outdoor air conditioner unit to shut down due to lack of proper airflow.
• Your filter should be changed every month.
• Check all return air grilles to make sure they are not blocked by furniture. 
• Check all supply air registers to make sure they are open and blowing air. (The return air grilles are normally located on your walls and are wide and flat).

Gas Furnace Equipment Checklist (back to top)

• Check to make sure that your thermostat is set in the "heat" position
• Make sure that the temperature setting on the thermostat is set above (or higher than) the indoor temperature showing on the thermostat. (This tells your heating system that it should provide heat!)
• Ensure that there is power to the furnace:

1. Try turning the fan to "ON" using the fan switch on the thermostat to test for power to furnace.
2. Check the circuit breakers at the electrical panel to make sure they are in the "On" position.
3. Check the SSU switch (it looks like a light switch on a gray box located at the furnace) to be sure it is in the "ON" position

• Replace the furnace filter if needed.

1. All 1-inch thick furnace filters should be replaced monthly.
2. Purolator 2-inch thick, and other high-capacity pleated filters can most likely be changed every other month or just 6 times per year.

• Check all return air grilles to make sure they are not blocked by furniture.
• Check all supply air registers to make sure they are open and blowing air. (The return air grilles are normally located on your walls and are wide and flat).

If these simple solutions do not solve your problem, contact your local Carrier dealer for service. Be sure to have your model number handy.

Pre-Service Checklist (back to top)

Before your expert dealer arrives at your home to service your Carrier heating and cooling system, take a moment to make sure you're prepared for the appointment. That way, you can ensure your expert dealer has all of the information he or she needs, and can get directly to work getting your Carrier system into top-performing condition.

Here are a few things to do in preparation for your service appointment:

• Know where all of the units in your heating and cooling system are located.
• Perform basic troubleshooting tactics.
• Check your air filter. A dirty air filter is a common cause of problems.
• Write down the model numbers of all your Carrier products.
• Be ready to explain clearly what symptoms or problems you've had.
• Know how long ago your problem began.
• Make sure the system is accessible by the dealer. If there is something blocking any of your products, please remove it.
• If your system's products are in an attic or crawl space, please make it easily accessible.
• Lock pets in a separate room so they don't get in the way or get hurt.
• Make sure there's an adult (18 or over) home to legally allow entry to your home.
• Be prepared to answer the phone. Many technicians will call to confirm the appointment on their way.
• If you rent your home, make sure you have your landlord's permission to have your system serviced.
• If your heat pump or air conditioner is frozen, shut it off before the technician arrives so it's thawed and ready for service.
• Make available a file containing information on all prior services performed on your system.