AC not blowing cold air? Here in SWFL, the very last thing a homeowner wants or needs to happen is to find their AC blowing warm air. AC issues, especially in the summer in Florida, are a dreaded issue that needs to be addressed immediately. In many cases, the issues that cause your ac to stop blowing cold air can be prevented with maintenance.
Many people may want to call the HVAC experts right away if their AC is not blowing cold air. But if you are the type who likes to troubleshoot on your own cooling system, there are common possible reasons that may be the culprit before calling an HVAC company.
9 Common Reasons Your AC is Not Blowing Cold Air:
1. Your Air Filter Hasn’t Been Changed
When is the last time you changed your air filter? A dirty air filter can cause more problems than just restricted airflow. An extremely dirty filter can cause damage to other parts of the HVAC system, like the evaporator coil.
We recommend that you change your air filter as often as every 30 days, 90 days at the most to prevent a clogged filter and poor airflow. Some people with allergies benefit from a new air filter every 30 to 45 days. We have a podcast episode on this: What You Should Know About Your AC Filters.
2. Your Condenser Needs a Good Cleaning
Your condenser is your outside unit. Since it’s in the elements of the great outdoors, it gets dirty very easily. When dirt and debris make their way inside of the condenser unit, it can interfere with the proper running of the system.
The good news is, you don’t need to call a professional HVAC technician to clean your outdoor condenser unit. You can easily do it yourself with a little soap and water and a low-pressure hose or another water source. Just be extra careful not to bend or break any of the unit’s parts.
3. Your Thermostat Isn’t Set Correctly Or It’s Malfunctioning
It’s possible that your thermostat just isn’t set correctly. If it’s not set at a cooler temperature than the room temperature, the AC will not blow cold air. If the settings are correct, it’s possible that there are electrical issues that are causing your thermostat to malfunction. The electrical panel could have sustained water damage or other power issues. This is something you’ll probably want your HVAC technician to check out for you for safety reasons.
4. Your AC Isn’t The Right Size
When your air conditioner is too large or too small it can result in the malfunctioning of your system. When a system is too small it will have to overwork to get to and keep your home at a comfortable temperature. If your system is too large, it will overwork as well because it will quickly cycle on and off almost constantly because it will cool the space too quickly. It will be very difficult to keep the space at a comfortable temperature.
Chances are, if this is your problem, you will have been experiencing issues for a while before you start to notice you aren’t getting any cold air. If you’ve experienced trouble keeping your home at a comfortable temperature, consider talking to an HVAC expert about the size of your air conditioning unit.
5. There’s a Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant cycles between your indoor and outdoor units constantly. It doesn’t run out or burn up, it’s just moved around. If you ever end up with low refrigerant levels, that means you definitely have a leak somewhere. When a leak occurs, your AC will stop blowing cold air.
You may be able to identify a refrigerant leak on your own:
- Do you hear a hissing sound while your air conditioner is running?
- If it does still happen to be blowing some cold air, it will take considerably longer to cool your home and your AC will run much more than usual.
If you suspect that you have a refrigerant leak, you should contact a licensed and trained HVAC professional for help as the repair requires a specialized skill.
6. There Are Mechanical Issues
Air conditioners work hard, especially in the summer months in southwest Florida! Normal wear and tear will occur and could be what you’re dealing with if your AC isn’t blowing cold air. If your air conditioner is just not working as it used to or you’ve noticed things beginning to go wrong, like warm air coming from your vents when your AC is running, your unit may need a check up.
7. There’s a Leak In Your Ductwork
A leak in your ductwork will quickly cause problems with getting cold air into your living space. If your ductwork is leaking, cold air is making its way into your walls and attic more than it is coming into your home. This is not only a problem for your comfort levels, but it’s also a problem for the efficiency of your unit because it will have to work harder.
8. Your AC is Freezing Up
It may sound strange that the unit designed to cool your home could freeze up in the process, but certain conditions can definitely cause this to happen. An AC unit freezing up can mean your condensate line is blocked, you have low refrigerant, you have a clogged filter caused by a dirty coil, or your thermostat settings are wrong. In other words, a frozen AC is not necessarily the cause of the AC not blowing cold air, but another symptom of the problem.
You can read about how to fix a frozen AC here to get your AC back up and running while you wait for your HVAC technician to make any necessary repairs or further inspection.
9. You Haven’t Had Annual Maintenance
Regular maintenance of your AC unit is always a good idea, but when you live in a sub-tropical climate it’s basically a requirement if you want your system to have a long life without a ton of costly repairs. If you’re not having regular maintenance and inspections done, you could be facing any number of issues that are causing your AC to malfunction.
Read about why air conditioning maintenance services are important here.
Contact the Experts when your AC is not blowing cold air:
These things are the most common causes for an AC unit not blowing cold air. Many of these only require a few simple steps for an easy fix. Others could require more extensive AC repair. If you are unsure of the cause or origin of the problem, it’s a good idea to call a professional technician. Sometimes HVAC repairs can seem simple and straightforward when they are actually quite technical and require specific steps for safety and effective repair of the unit.
If you have questions, you can contact us today. We are happy to discuss your issue over the phone before scheduling an appointment for an inspection or repair of the underlying problem. Our expert technicians will walk you through the process and explain what you’re facing and the recommended solutions. We offer 24/7 emergency service for those hot day AC breakdowns and are always prepared to show up and carry out the best course of action.
If you’ve been having AC issues for some time and you suspect it could be time for a new system altogether, we can help guide you through that decision making and installation process as well. You can read more about this decision in our blog post, When Should I Replace My AC Unit?