Facing the dilemma of having an air conditioner that’s not dispersing cold air is frustrating, especially during the sweltering heat and humidity of Ohio’s peak summer months from June to August. Now, we know that your AC system is not simply a luxury but a necessity, ensuring comfort and safety by maintaining proper airflow and indoor quality of your home.
So, what could be causing this annoying issue? Well, your experts at Blacklick Heating & Cooling are here to help you find out. We have compiled eight of the top reasons accounting for this common problem and will provide actionable ways for you to troubleshoot them.
How to Troubleshoot an AC That Is Blowing Hot Air:
Inspect the Thermostat
The thermostat is the command center of your HVAC system. It’s the bridge of communication between you and your AC unit. So, if the thermostat is malfunctioning, it can jeopardize your AC’s performance as well. As such, the thermostat is a great place to start troubleshooting since it’s not uncommon for AC issues to be traced back to it.
Who knows; you may just be able to resolve your current HVAC predicament by checking on the thermostat to see if the settings are correct or if they batteries simply need to be replaced.
Check Out the Circuit Breaker
Is your AC unit receiving power? Now, if your AC is in truth blowing out hot air, this probably won’t apply to this specific situation. But in the chance, your air conditioner is actually off, then it just might be a breaker issue.
Quiet corners such as your garage, basement, or utility closet usually house circuit breakers. So, go ahead and examine the breaker to see if the AC tripped it and flip it back on, if necessary. Just keep in mind that if it keeps doing this after, frequent instances of tripping indicate a larger underlying issue that needs professional intervention.
Examine the Air Filters
Don’t underestimate the havoc a choked air filter can wreak. When clogged with dust and pollutants, it inhibits airflow, potentially causing a domino effect of damage to the motor, fan, or compressor.
Typically, air filters need to be changed every 1-3 months depending on their type. So, if you have not recently changed yours, it wouldn’t hurt to double check your filters and see if this fixes the issue for you.
Look Over the Evaporator Coils
In conjunction with the previous point, a blocked air filter may also lead to dust or debris accumulation on the evaporator coils, restricting their heat absorption capacity, thus disturbing the cooling process. This can sometimes lead to your air conditioner not actually putting out cool air.
With this in mind, a quick check of the evaporator coils is crucial. Should you notice any accumulation of dust or debris, a gentle cleaning is recommended. For directions on how to meticulously clean your evaporator coils, please visit this link.
Scan for a Refrigerant Leak
Your AC’s refrigerant is the lifeblood of its cooling ability, just like coolant in your vehicle’s AC. So, when an AC’s refrigerant level is low or there is a leak, it can make your AC blow warm air.
If you are not a licensed HVAC technician, you likely do not have access to the proper equipment to check your air conditioner’s refrigerant levels nor do you have access to getting more refrigerant. As a result, it would be best to leave this particular troubleshooting step to the professionals. However, it’s still wise to familiarize yourself with signs of low or leaking refrigerant. These are:
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when the AC is not in use
- A lack of cool air coming from your vents
- Ice formation on your evaporator coils signals an issue
Assess the Condenser (Outside Unit)
Lastly, inspect the outdoor unit, or the condenser. Dirty condenser coils can hamper the unit’s efficiency in pulling out warm air from your home, decreasing the flow of cool air and potentially causing damage. If you find that the condenser coils could benefit from a cleaning, you can opt to do this task yourself by utilizing a water hose on a gentle setting and if you don’t feel comfortable doing so, we are more than happy to help.
If your AC continues to blow hot air despite your troubleshooting attempts, don’t worry. Our NATE-certified team is ready to help. We offer 24/7 emergency services year-round.
Get your AC summer-ready with the expert team at Blacklick Heating & Cooling. Call us today at (614) 245-2572 or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!