Nothing can dampen your mood like having an AC unit quit on you in the middle of a hot summer’s day. Whether it’s a window air conditioner or in an apartment, it can cause your home to feel hot, uncomfortable, and weighed down by the miserable humidity and heat making it tough to relax within your own home. So what should you do if your air conditioner is not blowing cold air?
At TSS Home Comfort, we’re here to help you with all of your AC needs in Boise, ID, and the surrounding Treasure Valley area, and we’re just a call away when you need professional AC repair services. However, AC units don’t just quit in the Boise area alone, and that’s why we’ve provided a list of common issues that might be causing your AC unit problems when it comes to providing your home with cool air.
Don’t Sweat it When Your Air Conditioner Is Not Blowing Cold Air!
Check Your Thermostat
One of the first things that you should check, when your air conditioner is not blowing cold air, is your thermostat’s settings. Ensuring that it’s set to cooling mode, and not stuck on the fan setting or heat setting might be all it takes to get your home the cool air it needs.
After setting your thermostat back to cool, wait a couple of minutes for the AC unit to start, and then check your vents to see if you’re back to getting the cooling you need. Sometimes it’s as simple as that, and you can get back to enjoying the cooling power of your AC in no time!
After a power outage, you might need to restart your AC system to get it back up and running again. By simply checking your thermostat and “rebooting” your AC, you might be able to solve your cooling issues with ease.
Dirty or Clogged Filter
The air filter is responsible for collecting unwanted airborne particles from circulating throughout your home. Over time, these particles collect on your filter and can cause it to restrict the airflow coming from your air conditioner.
If your thermostat is set correctly, and you’re not getting the cool air you need from your AC unit but it’s running, a clogged or dirty filter may be to blame. Typically you might feel some cooling coming from your vents, however, it’ll usually be very weak, or even hard to detect if your filter is severely clogged.
Your Condenser Might Be Obstructed
When your air conditioner unit is running but not cooling properly, check to make sure that the condenser unit isn’t obstructed or blocked. The condenser unit is responsible for transferring heat out of your home and is located on your outside unit. It’s made up of a series of thin metal fins that typically wrap completely around your home AC unit.
Things like excess debris, trash, weeds, and grass can cause it to become blocked, leaving you with an air conditioner that is not blowing cold air. By simply clearing the areas around your AC unit, you might start to notice that your home’s temperature begins to return to a normal, and comfortable temperature.
A Frozen Evaporator Coil
A frozen evaporator coil can wreak serious havoc on your home’s AC operation, causing it to no longer be able to suck up the humidity and heat from within your home efficiently. When your air conditioner is no longer blowing cold air, check for signs that your coil may be frozen or even just require cleaning.
Some of the most typical signs that you have a frozen coil include things such as:
Leaking or Low Refrigerant Levels
Having a refrigerant leak within your home AC unit can cause damage to the unit itself if left unattended for long periods. When your air conditioner is low or leaking refrigerant, it may not be able to keep up with the cooling demands that you need to maintain a comfortable temperature within your home.
Refrigerant helps the heat transfer process and allows you to essentially exchange warmer air for cool air. When you’re low or leaking refrigerant, you’ll want to call in an expert HVAC technician due to the substance being very volatile.
When To Call The Experts if Your Air Conditioner Is Not Blowing Cold Air
If your outside unit isn’t running, is abnormally loud, or you’re dealing with refrigerant spills, leaks, or messes, call in the experts at TSS Home Comfort. Sometimes there’s an underlying problem that only a certified HVAC technician should handle to avoid damage and warranty problems with your AC manufacturer.
