Our extensive Trane air conditioner repair guide, from replacing your air filter to troubleshooting common problems, helpful tips, and more!
Please note, the following is for informational purposes only. Any servicing you attempt is at your own risk.
Table of contents
Trane At a Glance
Trane is one of the big brand names that Canadians trust since they’ve been around for over 120 years. They create air conditioners that are meant to last and do their job well. Trane has a strong design as they build and test their parts to exceed industry standards, going as far to test units for 16 weeks in extreme conditions. All to make sure that when it arrives at your home, it can do the job without fail.
With commitment like that, it’s easy to assume that your Trane air conditioner can take care of itself. However, like any air conditioner, some regular maintenance and care will have your unit lasting a long time. Preventing issues from getting worse and becoming costly repairs is an important part of air conditioner maintenance. With seasonal check-ups, you can keep your unit running at peak efficiency.
How to Replace Your Trane Air Filter
One of the main ways that you can keep your air conditioner running in top condition is to change the air filter. A dirty or clogged air filter won’t be doing the job it should be since it can restrict airflow and cause the unit to run less efficiently or leave the air unpurified so that allergens can enter your home. Fortunately, cleaning the air filter is a simple and easy task.
- Find the air filter. Usually, it’s in the furnace, air conditioner or return duct.
- Turn off the power to your air conditioner before you attempt to remove the filter.
- Take out the filter gently. If it’s reusable, you can clean it, and if it’s not, you should buy a new one.
- Replace the filter. Take care to put the filter in the way it came out, ensuring that the airflow arrows match the direction indicated on your unit.
- Close your air filter compartment and restore power to your air conditioner.
Other General A/C Maintenance Tips
There are a few other tasks that you can do as a homeowner to ensure that your air conditioner has a long and efficient lifespan. These chores are easy and should be done regularly, even if only before and after the season. A little prevention can go a long way in helping you avoid expensive replacement or repairs. Check your owner’s manual for tips and reference and be sure to turn off the power to your unit before opening it up.
1. Remove debris from around your unit
At least two feet around your air conditioner should be free of clutter, greenery and any outdoor furniture. Ensure that plants and leaves are not nearby so that air is free to move in and around the unit.
2. Maintain the fins
Fins can be cleaned by using the gentle spray on your garden hose and running it along the fins from the inside out to loosen and remove dirt and debris that has collected there. Don’t use too much pressure because it can bend or damage the fins. You can straighten the fins using a fin comb from a hardware store or carefully using a butter knife to bend them back into place.
3. Ensure the unit is level
The pad that your unit sits on may have shifted with dirt compacting underneath. If this is the case, the uneven tilt adds stress and wear on the compressor and can cause it to fail before its lifespan ends. Fix the pad so that your air conditioner is even-levelled on the ground.
What’s Wrong With Your Trane Air Conditioner?
Remember to turn your a/c completely off before opening it up to look around or attempt any fix.
| Is your air conditioner... | The problem might be your... | What's wrong? | How you can fix it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermostat | Check the batteries. They may be dead, or the thermostat may be on the wrong setting. | Replace the batteries in your thermostat and double check that it’s on the cool setting. | |
| Circuit breaker | The breaker switch may be turned off. | Flip the switch back to the “on” position. | |
| Not blowing cold air? | Air filter | The filter needs to be clean to do its job. If it’s clogged with dirt or dust, it won’t work. | Replace or clean your filter to allow air to blow better. |
| Outside unit | If the area around the unit has foliage, furniture or debris laying around it can stop air from flowing correctly. | Clear a two-foot space around your air conditioner and keep it clean so that nothing blocks the airflow from your unit. | |
| Refrigerant | Leaking refrigerant will cause the unit to be less effective since there is not enough cooling fluid to work. | A professional HVAC technician can fix this for you. | |
| Insulation | Without insulation, air can leak out from your home. Cracks, windows and doors are common areas where this happens. | Consider upgrading your windows to ones that are more insulating or use blackout curtains to keep the sun and heat out. | |
| Dripping water? | Condensate line | The pipe leaving your air conditioner may have debris inside it. | Use compressed air to remove the clog. |
| Drain line | If the drain pan is full, it can cause the drain line to be blocked and water to overflow. | See if there are any blockages in the drain line and clear them. Empty your drain pan as well. | |
| Making odd sounds? | Blower motor or belt | Squeaking sounds are typically from the belt or the blower motor. | Lubricant can help the parts to run smoothly without squeaking. |
| Fan blades | If the sound is like a card in a bicycle spoke, then it’s likely that something is stuck between the blades. | Turn off the unit, open it carefully and check if there is something caught between the blades and extract it gently. |
Trane Air Conditioner Error Codes
Note that these error codes may or may not be accurate or apply to your system. Each manufacturer has a range of different sensor and error codes used for different model lines and these may differ from one model series, production run, region, and may have been updated at any time. This not a comprehensive list and these are for informational purposes only. Any use of them is at your own risk.
Error Codes
| LED | Rate | Description | Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Slow | 1 TIME PER SECOND | Standby/Idle |
| Green | Medium | 2 TIMES PER SECOND | Call for Capacity |
| Green | Fast | 5 TIMES PER SECOND | Power Up Delay |
| Green | Solid ON | Test Mode | |
| Green | Intermittent | 1 FLASH EVERY 4 SECONDS | Hard Lockout |
| Comm (Amber) | Slow | 1 TIME PER DEVICE | DEVICE COUNT |
| Comm (Amber) | Fast | 5 TIME PER SECOND | Loss of Communication |
When to Get a Technician for Trane Air Conditioner Repairs
There are some maintenance items on your checklist that are best left to the professionals. The issues below require training and complex knowledge to fix correctly without causing further damage. Regular maintenance visits are an excellent idea to help you catch small issues before they become costly repairs. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s probably time to call in an HVAC technician.
Frozen coils
This usually happens when something has malfunctioned in your system. It can be tricky to pinpoint the issue as it could be any combination of issues with ducts, drains or other internal parts that are challenging to fix.
Clicking sounds
When your air conditioner turns on or off, you hear a clicking noise. This could mean a problem with the relay or an internal part. It’s difficult to tell which and how to replace it.
Damaged compressor
Though this is an unlikely problem, it’s on the more serious end of issues you can have with your A/C. It can cause air not to flow right and determining that it is the compressor and not something else requires specific knowledge and skills to repair.
Leaking refrigerant
This will make your unit less efficient at cooling since there’s less cooling fluid than needed. Though it’s a relatively simple job, you’ll need a technician since topping up coolant is not a solution.
Who to Call For Trane Air Conditioner Repairs
If it’s the first time, you’ve encountered a problem with your air conditioner, knowing who to turn to can be a difficult endeavour. Even if you’ve had someone come in before, if you didn’t like their service, you may not want to use them again. You can call companies and ask questions, or you can search online reviews for information and recommendations, but the information you get is likely to be biased one way or another.
Furnaceprices.ca can help by offering our list of vetted technicians and companies who have met or surpassed our high and stringent standards of what makes a great technician. We’ve created an independent HVAC contractor certification program that you can use to find a certified partner who will carry out quality work with integrity and courtesy. You should be fully informed when inviting someone into your home.
Trane’s Warranty Coverage
Trane offers tiered warranties based on the model level that you select. You need to register your air conditioner within 60 days either online or by phone to get the registered warranty. Otherwise, you’re covered by the base warranty that will cover parts but not labour, and only for a maximum of 5 years.
- Low-Tier Registered: 10-year limited warranty on compressor, 10-year limited warranty on coils, 10-year limited warranty on parts.
- High-Tier Registered: 12-year limited warranty on compressor, 10-year limited warranty on coils, 10-year limited warranty on parts.
You also have the option to extend your warranty if you wish. This costs extra but will cover parts and labour for you.
Protect your Trane air conditioner: Register and access your Trane A/C warranty here
