How Do I Reset My Air Conditioner Safely?

To reset an air conditioner safely, shut it off at the thermostat and breaker, wait a few minutes for pressures to equalize, then restore power and turn cooling back on. Most resets are needed after a power blip or a safety lockout from short cycling. Our technicians see this often after summer storms across the Front Range and around Littleton, and a clean reset can clear the fault without harm. A telltale sign we watch for is a breaker that trips again right away, which points to an electrical or motor issue, not a control glitch.

Follow these steps:

• Set the thermostat to Off and Fan to Auto.
• Turn the AC breaker off; if there’s an outdoor pull-out disconnect, remove it too.
• Wait at least 3 minutes, then restore power at the disconnect and breaker.
• Set the thermostat to Cool and observe; stop if the breaker trips, you smell burning, or ice forms.

If the system won’t restart or trips again, leave it off to protect the compressor and schedule a professional diagnosis.

Updated: 2026-10-26

Need help in Littleton, CO? Call (720) 231-0671 or book online. "The technician was knowledgeable and able to explain the problems with the boiler system. Simply Mechanical had the parts on hand and was able to repair the system on their first visit." — Brad T.