You’ve likely dealt with your share of air conditioner troubles as a homeowner. From strange sounds to poor performance, your cooling system can experience many issues over the years. Many of these problems occur as a result of neglecting regular maintenance, while others can happen due to wear and tear. However, if you’ve recently found your air conditioner not blowing cold air like it’s supposed to, you might be unfamiliar with how to address this dilemma.
Nobody wants their AC blowing warm air — especially on a hot day. This issue can be easy to fix, but professional assistance may be required in some instances. In this guide, we’ll go over the potential reasons why your air conditioner is blowing warm air.
Incorrect Thermostat Setting
Why is your AC not blowing cold air? The problem could lie with your current thermostat settings. First and foremost, you’ll want to check that your thermostat is set to “cool” instead of “heat.” Although this may sound like common sense, things can happen, and settings can be changed by accident.
Next, ensure that the thermostat fan setting is set to “auto” instead of “on.” When the fan is placed on “auto,” the fan will only turn on when your air conditioner is on a cooling cycle. If you switch the fan to “on,” the fan will blow continuously — even when your AC isn’t producing cool air. This constant air circulation can be why your air conditioner is blowing warm air throughout your home.
Clogged Air Filter
If you have an HVAC system in your home, there’s a good chance that it has a filter. These air filters need to be replaced regularly — every 30 days — to make sure that your AC runs efficiently and effectively. Clogged and dirty air filters can inhibit airflow and make it difficult for your air conditioner to blow cool air throughout your home.
When you find your air conditioner not blowing cold air, it’s always a good idea to check the filter. Keeping up to date with this small maintenance task can improve home comfort and help you avoid scheduling local air conditioning repairs.
Dirty Evaporator Coils
Your central air conditioner has many important parts, including the evaporator coil. This component, which is sometimes referred to as a cooling coil, removes heat from your home’s indoor air. As a result, having a dirty coil will negatively affect your air conditioner’s cooling performance and can cause it to blow warm air.
Are you looking for additional reasons to clean your evaporator coil? There is certainly more to know. Although a dirty coil can be why your air conditioner is blowing warm air, it can also get in the way of your unit’s efficiency. When the evaporator coil is covered with debris, it’ll have to work extra hard to meet your cooling needs. In the end, you could wind up wasting energy and paying for higher energy bills.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant is paramount to your air conditioner’s cooling performance. What happens when you have a refrigerant leak? This frustrating problem can lead to insufficient cooling, higher energy costs, and may make it feel as if your AC unit is blowing warm air — three things no homeowner wants to experience.
In some instances, strange hissing sounds can indicate that your AC is low on refrigerant. However, it’s often difficult to know with full confidence that you’re dealing with a leak.
When you find your air conditioner not blowing cold air like it’s supposed to, don’t hesitate to contact an HVAC technician for an inspection. An expert from Keefe’s can let you know if you’re dealing with a refrigerant leak and will provide you with an appropriate solution to fix the problem.
How Often Does a Home AC Need to Be Recharged?
In most cases, you won’t need to add refrigerant to your air conditioner unless there is a leak. When a leak is present, an HVAC technician will likely present you with one of two options: fix the leak or replace your AC unit. If you’ve found your air conditioner not blowing cold air and the system itself is getting old, a full system replacement could be the most cost-effect solution in the long run.
Regular Old Age
If you’ve checked for refrigerant leaks, replaced the air filter, and cleaned the evaporator coil, you might still be wondering why your air conditioner is blowing warm air. What could possibly be causing this frustrating problem? There is one other unlying issue worth mentioning. When it comes down to it, you might find your AC blowing warm air due to old age.
As your air conditioner slowly but surely nears the end of its lifespan, it’s possible that it won’t be able to provide cool air like it used to when it was new and freshly installed. If your air conditioning system is more than ten years old, needs frequent repairs, and fails to meet your cooling requirements, a replacement is likely the best option.
Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioner With the Experts
If your AC is acting strangely, it’s always a good idea to inspect the thermostat setting and check the circuit breaker to ensure everything is working correctly. However, when you find your air conditioner not blowing cold air, you don’t want to waste any time addressing the problem. Call Keefe’s for a repair or replacement you can trust! We proudly provide HVAC service in New Orleans and the surrounding areas to include the Northshore. When you need help cooling the house down, Keefe’s expert technicians are only a call away!
