How Can I Reset My Air Conditioner to Fix Power Issues?

Resetting an air conditioner to fix power issues means safely shutting off power to the system, waiting five minutes, then restoring power in the right order. Most power problems follow an outage or surge that trips a breaker or puts the compressor into a protective timeout. Give the system a true five‑minute “compressor timeout”; cutting it short can keep the unit locked out. Our certified technicians arrive in fully stocked trucks, so most repairs can be completed on the same visit. We handle many post‑storm resets across the Columbus area and can test for loose connections or weak capacitors if it trips again.

Try this simple reset procedure:

• Set the thermostat to Off.
• Turn the AC/HVAC breakers Off (and pull the outdoor disconnect if present); wait 5 minutes.
• Turn breakers and disconnect On, then set Cool, Auto fan, and lower the setpoint.
• Stop and call a pro if the breaker trips again, you smell burning, or hear loud buzzing.

If the breaker keeps tripping or you hear humming without the fan, stop trying to reset and schedule service to prevent equipment damage.

Updated: 2026-06-19

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