A Guide to Resetting Your AC After a Power Outage

September 29, 2020 by California Energy Consultant Service

An AC unit is an important device that can be found in most every home. After all, without it, your home can become hot, stifling and uncomfortable year round. As such, it’s vital that your AC unit remains in good shape. Unfortunately, at times, your home might suffer from a power outage and once this happens, it’s important that you first reset your air conditioner. That way, it doesn’t suffer from a sudden power surge. But how exactly do you reset your air conditioner?

thermostat

Read on as HVAC and window replacement expert California Energy Consultant Service offers this guide:

Step #1: Turn Off the AC at the Thermostat

When resetting your AC after a power outage, the first thing you should do is turn your AC off at the thermostat. Locate the “system” switch on your thermostat and set it to “off” to accomplish this. That way, it won’t turn on automatically when the power comes back.

Step #2: Turn Off Your AC at the Breaker

After you’ve turned the AC off at the thermostat, it’s highly recommended that you do the same thing at the breaker itself. To do this, go to the circuit breaker and find your AC’s switch. Set this switch to “off” and you can move on to the next step.

Step #3: Turn Your AC Back On at the Breaker

While it may sound counterproductive, once the AC has been turned off at the breaker, you can turn it back on again not long afterwards. Like before, simply turn the air conditioner’s switch at your breaker back to the “on” position. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to turn to the HVAC and residential window replacement experts of California Energy Consultant Service.

Step #4: Wait 30 Minutes

According to experts, the internal circuitry of your AC unit will need some time to reset before you can turn it back on. As the reset time can take about half an hour, it’s best that you wait the 30 minutes out first before doing anything else.

Step #5: Turn the AC On at the Thermostat

Finally, once the 30 minutes have passed, you can now turn your AC on at the thermostat once again. If your unit wasn’t damaged during the power outage, your system should easily turn back on and work as smoothly as ever.

Looking for an HVAC expert who can help you maintain your unit? Simply turn to California Energy Consultant Service, the number one experts to approach when it comes to windows and HVAC services. Give us a call at (916) 852-8132 or (916) 281-0548. You may also fill out our contact form to schedule a FREE in-home consultation. We serve homeowners in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento and other nearby areas in CA. Talk to us today!

Free In Home Consultation

Featured Customer Review

We couldn't be more pleased with our new roof! Sam, John and Oscar did an amazing job!! They were prompt, thorough, and did a great job of communicating. We highly recommend them.

Jeff C.
San Francisco, CA
7/3/2025

Corporate Headquarters & Showroom

showroom

Address
9380 Orangevale Ave
Orangevale, CA 95662
Get Directions
© 2025 California Energy Consultant Service. All Rights Reserved

California Energy Consultant Service License #627677