When the temperatures begin to rise, most people count on their AC to provide comfort and relief from the heat. However, your HVAC system may fail to provide the much-needed cool air even though it’s blowing air as per regular operation. A quick check; you place your hand over the AC vents, and you realize it’s blowing warm air. What could be the problem?
Wrong Thermostat Settings
When your AC is blowing warm air, the first and obvious thing to check is the thermostat. Someone else may have set it off, or your kid may accidentally hit it while throwing an object. The solution is to change the thermostat setting to cool and that of the fan to auto. Dial-type thermostats may cause heating problems due to incorrect calibration. Contact a professional to help with recalibration and replacement of faulty thermostats.
Dirty Condenser Unit
The condenser unit serves the crucial function of expelling heat from your home. The condenser requires a clear path for unrestricted airflow to cool your home. Dirt, grime, leaves, and other debris may clog the condenser unit and cause it not to dissipate heat efficiently. To fix this, clean the condenser unit and have a clearance of two feet around the unit.
Clogged Filters
Clogged filters can impede the cooling operation of your system. The filters screen out dust and contaminants from the air flowing through the AC system. If these contaminants clog the air filters, they will obstruct the flow of air to the system. This will hamper the effectiveness of the coil to remove heat, and the fan will blow heat back to your home. To resolve this, check and replace clogged air filters at least once every month.
Power Failure to the Outdoor Unit
Air conditioning systems have an indoor evaporator unit and an outdoor condensing unit. If the indoor unit is working fine, the fan will blow air into your space. However, if the outdoor condenser unit is not working correctly, cooling will not occur, and your AC will blow warm air. This often happens when the condenser unit loses power due to a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Do not handle electrical problems – call a qualified HVAC technician to handle this problem.
Low or Leaking Refrigerant
The refrigerant is the circulating fluid that collects heat from your indoor space and dumps it outside. When the refrigerant is low due to leakages, your HVAC will not have enough capacity to transfer heat out of your home. Consequently, the vents will supply warm air. Other signs of leaking refrigerant include hissing or gurgling noises and ice on the refrigerant line. Call your local HVAC technician to locate the leak, fix it, and replenish the refrigerant.
Blocked or Closed Return Vents
Closed vents cause airflow problems, which can lead to your AC blowing warm air. It may occur when you forget to reopen the vent grills after closing them during winter or when your furniture blocks the vents. Inspect your space and ensure all registers and vents remain open to allow free circulation of air.
While you can reset your thermostat and replace dirty filters, do not attempt DIY repairs. You and Your system are safe when you allow a qualified HVAC technician to handle cooling problems. If you need help, call us Dodrill Comfort & Energy Solutions to schedule HVAC repair and maintenance services.