When you step inside during the summer, you expect a blast of air cold enough to raise goosebumps, right? So when the inside isn’t much cooler than outside, your first thought is to panic that your AC has died. If the system is running, but not cooling, you may have a small issue you can troubleshoot yourself. An AC blowing warm air could just need a little love and attention that won’t involve a big repair bill.
Here are five possible things that could explain why your AC doesn’t blow cold air.
Confused Thermostat
It’s the most basic of things, but if you get no cold air out of an AC, it could be because your thermostat isn’t telling the system to blow cold air. Double-check that the thermostat is working, turned to cool, and set to the correct temperature. The problem could be as simple as needing new batteries in the unit.
Dirty Air Filter
Your air filter doesn’t have anything directly to do with your air temperature, but a dirty filter leads to a dirty evaporator coil. When the coils are clogged, you don’t get enough airflow to allow for things to cool properly. Changing your filter every month or two can keep everything clean and running properly.
If the coils have frozen up, turn everything off, and change the filter. Once it thaws, turn it back on, and check the air temperature. If they freeze up again, it’s time to call in a tech to handle a potentially bigger problem.
Blocked Outside Unit
Bushes, dirt, and other lawn debris can get into your condenser and interfere with the moving parts and block the airflow. Turn the unit off, remove the top and clean out anything that’s gotten inside and is blocking operation. If you hear any odd noises after you turn it back on, there’s a chance a belt or fan might have gotten damaged.
Low Refrigerant
One reason your AC isn’t cold could be a refrigerant leak. If levels are low, you have a hole, loose joint, or something that is letting it escape.
While you can check hoses and connectors to see if you see a leak, you’ll need an HVAC technician to handle recharging the refrigerant levels.
Leaky Air Ducts
You may be getting warm air out of the vents because the cold air escaped through a leak in your ductwork. Most of your ductwork is located in a non-conditioned space, so when the cold air leaks out, that warm, humid air in your attic or garage gets sucked in.
Just a few leaks can mean your AC works 50 percent harder trying to get your house cool. Part of your regular maintenance should be to check your exposed ductwork to look for gaps in the insulation, disconnected joints, or small holes.
Is Your AC Blowing Warm Air?
Nothing strikes fear in the heart of a Floridian like discovering your AC blowing warm air into the house. With our warm, muggy summers, an AC that doesn’t get cold can quickly become uncomfortable. With this guide, you should be able to troubleshoot the simple issues you might have.
If your AC is blowing warm air and you can’t figure out why, don’t suffer any longer than necessary. Contact us to schedule an emergency service call, and we’ll have you back to having the coolest house on the block in no time.
