AC Won't Come Back On After a Power Outage in Tucson? What to Do

In Tucson, Arizona, few home appliances are more important than your AC. Power outages in Tucson are especially challenging when the temperature is rising and there's no cold air to keep the house cool. But you wait it out. Maybe you’ll catch dinner in an air-conditioned restaurant or take turns making fans out of everything in the house. When the power comes back, you expect your AC to come back as well but what if it doesn't?

Some power outages can actually damage your home equipment. If your AC needs repairs after a recent , AZ, we can help you get the compensation you need from the power company to cover the costs.

Reset Your AC and Breaker Box

Three Reasons Your AC Won't Work After a Power Outage in Tucson, AZ

There are three reasons why your AC might not start after the power comes back. In most cases, this is one or two tripped breakers and it will take only about 30 minutes to get cold air blowing again. But if it's option 2 or 3, you may be looking at a hefty repair bill that should have the power company's name on it.

The internal breaker reset	The internal surge protection system triggered - you'll need to reset the AC. Cost: $0
The capacitor is blown	The internal capacitor fried - it will need replacing. Cost: $200 - $400
The compressor surged out	The compressor unit fried - it will need replacing . Cost: $1,000 to $3,000

If your AC is damaged by the , this means a power surge came through your home electronics and fried essential equipment. Because power surges should not happen, this is almost always the direct responsibility of your power company.

However, it's always best to check if your AC will come back on with a quick breaker reset.

Turn Off Your Thermostat

Start your post-outage AC reset by turning off the thermostat. This stops the unit from asking for cooling during the reset.

Find the Flipped Fuses in Your Breaker Box

Next, find your internal home fuse box. You may notice one or more breakers (or fuses) flipped to the 'Middle' position. This means a large amount of power tripped the breakers and they disconnected to keep the home safe.

Flip Breakers "Off" and then "On"

Flip the centered breakers first to the "Off" position, then back "On." This will reset power to these circuits in your home - including the AC.

Wait 30 Minutes

Now, wait 30 minutes for your AC's internal breaker to reset itself after its power is restored. It may be hot in your home during this time, so feel free to make use of your ceiling fans or visit a place with working air conditioning during the wait.

Turn the Thermostat Back On

After 30 minutes, flip the thermostat back on and to cooling. If your AC "wakes up" and begins cooling, you're in good shape. If not, you may have some extensive repairs to do.

Call for an AC Repair Quote

The next step is to get an accurate quote on the cost of repairs. Call your local HVAC technician and have them open up the unit. They can then tell you if the capacitor is blown (the can have swollen and may be leaking oily liquid) or if the main compressor unit was permanently damaged by a large power surge.

Your quoted repairs can range from $200 to $3,000 depending on your AC unit and the component that needs replacing. Get this quote in writing and, if necessary, have your AC fixed right away for your family's health and safety. Then worry about reimbursement from the power company.

How to Claim Compensation for AC Repair After a Tucson Power Outage

Request Reimbursement Through Your Power Company. Start by finding your power company's customer service line. This is often available with a quick online search or through your customer account page. You can choose to communicate by phone, chat, or email depending on the options available and your personal preferences.

Tell the rep about your outage, confirm the outage times, and then report that the outage caused serious damage to your home AC unit. Depending on the brand (and rep training), they may offer you compensation. However, most power companies make it a policy not to offer compensation or to fight against any fair compensation. Be prepared for either outcome.

File a Homeowner's Insurance Claim for AC Repairs. If you have ample homeowner's insurance, you may also be able to file a claim through your policy. Contact your insurance agent and explore your policy. A freak power surge that wrecks a large home appliance is exactly what homeowner's insurance is for. However, some agents will discourage you from filing a claim to protect their own stats. Don't let this happen to you, most threats (like doubling your rates) are empty. Escalate if necessary to ensure your right to file on the policy you've paid for.

Solve Power Outage Claims With the Help of DoNotPay

Don't have time to wrangle your power company's customer service policies or argue with your insurance agent? We know all about it. Most people lose money to power company failures just by not having the time to fight for their rightful reimbursement. Let DoNotPay jump through the customer service hoops for you.

Just tell us about the outage and share your technician's report on the repairs and we'll take care of the rest.

How to Get Compensation for an Outage Using DoNotPay:

If you want to get compensation for an outage but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 9 easy steps:

Go to the Outage Refunds product on DoNotPay.
Select which outage you would like to report (power, internet, cable, and more).
Select your energy provider and enter your account number.
Indicate when the outage started and how long it lasted.
Verify your account information.
If you want to be reimbursed for losses related to a power outage, choose whether you want to be reimbursed for personal injuries, damaged property, or both.
Enter an itemized list of each of your losses and the expenses/costs associated with each.
Upload documents or photographic evidence that proves your losses. Also, add the names of any witnesses who can attest to your losses if possible.
Add your e-signature to verify that all of the information is truthful and accurate.

DoNotPay Outage Loss Recovery Works with Any Company, Anywhere

Did you experience any type of power outage loss beyond a busted AC? DoNotPay can help with multiple utility outage types. Our services work with any utility provider company in any region within the US.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

There are many DoNotPay services that can help save you money and hassle. Check out a few other options to make your life easier this year and handle difficult service offices on your behalf.

DoNotPay is proud to have built many services that make difficult problems easy. Let us take on the phone calls with your insurance agent, liable parties, and government offices so you don't have to.