My Air Conditioner is Not Blowing Cold Air
When the weather gets hotter, you rely on your air conditioner to keep you cool and comfortable. Extreme heat not only makes you feel low on energy and uncomfortable, it can also pose a health risk.
If the air conditioner isn't blowing cold air, you should get to the bottom of the problem as soon as possible.
Extreme heat doesn’t only make you feel unpleasant. It can lead to dehydration and other heat-related illnesses. This is particularly true for children up to age 4 amd people 65 or older. Excessive heat can also affect overweight individuals and patients with health conditions. This comes from a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a worst-case scenario, a vulnerable person could succumb to heat stroke. This is where he or she cannot control body temperature (no longer able to perspire and cool down). Left untreated, the result can be disability or death.
Maintaining cool temperatures in the summer keeps you comfortable and healthy.
Here are some common reasons why an air conditioner is not blowing cold air. In some cases, you may be able to remedy the situation yourself. Otherwise, the trained technicians at Ardmore are ready to help you and get the AC back up and running.
Thermostat Settings
The first thing you should check is the thermostat. Under normal circumstances, you would set the thermostat to be a certain temperature. But, if you have set the thermostat to “On” instead of “Auto,” the fan will run even when the system is not cooling the air.
Switch the thermostat to “Auto” and it should only blow cool air. If this doesn’t take care of the situation, more investigation is in order.
Air Filter
Your next point of inspection should be the air filter. How long has it been since you changed the disposable filter? You should always put a fresh new filter in according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you have pets that shed, this can cause the filter to get dirty earlier than usual.
A dirty air filter can block air that needs to flow to the air handler. This leads to a weak flow of air that is not as cool as you’d expect.
Replace your filter and make an entry in your calendar to remind you to swap out the next one in plenty of time.
Dirty Condenser or Evaporator
The condenser, located outside your home, may be dirty. This makes it unable to cool your home. Inspect it and remove any twigs, dirt, dust and other debris covering it. Then see if the system runs again. The AC’s evaporator coil inside your home can also accumulate dirt and dust. This also prevents it from working at normal capacity.
A technician will inspect these trouble spots and perform routine maintenance and cleaning. This helps to prevent the problem from reoccurring.
Low on Refrigerant
When the system has a leak, refrigerant can escape. It can escape over a long period of time so it takes a while before you notice worsening performance. This is a task for an HVAC professional to take care of. He or she will repair any leaks and add refrigerant as needed to bring the system back to its normal capacity.
The Wrong Size
An HVAC technician will measure the building and find the right size of air conditioner. You might think that “bigger equals better,” but this is not the case in air conditioning. Equipment meant for a much larger building will tend to cycle on and off more. This can overwork the system and generate less cold air. A professional can determine if your AC setup was the wrong size.
For what to do when your air conditioner is no longer blowing cold air, contact Ardmore Fresh Air today.
