What to do when your A/C is not blowing cold air
All year long we look forward to summer, it’s a time where we can enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer. However, the heat that comes with it can be overwhelming, it’s nice to have access to an air-conditioned house where we can escape the elements. There is no worse time for your air conditioner to not work. This time of year, we receive a large number of customer calls with non-functioning A/C’s, the most common being an A/C not blowing cold air. This happens for several reasons, figuring out the problem is half the battle. If you’re A/C is not blowing cold air there are a few things that can cause it and you may even be able to fix it yourself.
Check your thermostat
The first place to go to would be the thermostat, this is the most common culprit. Check that the batteries are not dead, if they are then change the batteries and try again. You should also check that you’re A/C is set to on and to your desired temperature. If these do not fix the problem then something else is going on, time to try something else.
Change your furnace filter
Your furnace filter needs to be changed a few times a year. While most homeowners believe it only affects the furnace’s ability to heat, it can also affect the ability of you’re A/C being able to cool your house. A clogged filter can reduce air flow which in turn can cause your coil to freeze, stopping its ability to cool. Change your filter, let the coil thaw and then check to see if it is working again. If not, there is likely something bigger going on and you will need a qualified technician to determine what that is.
Clean your outdoor compressor
The outdoor compressor is where the heat removed from the air in your house is expelled. This works by disbursing the heat into hundreds of small metal fins that are then air cooled by a large fan. These metal fins eventually get dirt and dust build up in between them which prevent them from absorbing the expelled heat, in turn hindering the cooling process. Take a garden hose and spray the metal fins to clean out this build up. If the cooling problem persists, it might be time to call the professionals.
Leaking refrigerant
An A/C not blowing cold air is one of the signs of having low refrigerant. If it is low then you likely have a leak. When the air conditioner is functioning properly no refrigerant should get out, it stays inside the system and does not get lower with use. The only way this can happen is if it is leaking out somewhere. Low refrigerant can affect the air conditioner’s ability to cool your home. Leaking refrigerant is also bad for the environment so you need to get it fixed as quickly as possible. You will need a technician who is trained on how to handle refrigerant, they can locate the leak, repair it and top it up.
These are the most common reasons we have seen for an A/C not blowing cold air. There can be many other reasons and the best way to get it diagnosed is to have a qualified HVAC technician inspect it. Our team at Doyle Home Services can get your air conditioner working again and let you enjoy a nice, cool house.
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