7 Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner is Blowing Warm Air
Here’s the scenario. It’s a hot day in the San Diego area. You turn on the air conditioner in your home, expecting to feel chilled and refreshed. But wait, the air coming out of your vent is….warm. How can that be?
If you’ve found yourself in this situation, you have a right to be confused. However, central air conditioning is a complex system. There are many issues that can arise – both small and large – that can cause your AC to blow out warm air. Here are the top seven issues to look in to.
- Dirty filter – When was the last time you replace the air filter of your AC? When the filter gets dirty and clogged, the air can’t properly flow through the system and the unit’s coils can’t do their job. Replace your air filter and see if the performance of your AC improves.
- Blocked return vents – Along similar lines as the air filter, the return air vents around your home are important for the airflow of your AC system. Check to make sure the air return vents aren’t closed or blocked by furniture.
- Faulty thermostat – It’s possible the air conditioner itself is in fine working order, and the issue is actually with your thermostat. Double check that it’s functioning and the settings are all where they’re supposed to be. If you have an older thermostat, you can easily replace it with a new, programmable model that could help save money on your energy costs.
- Power issue – If the air conditioner condenser, which is usually outside, doesn’t have power, then the system will just be cycling warm air around the home. Check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. If you suspect an electrical issue, contact an HVAC professional or electrician.
- Damaged ductwork – If you can inspect your ducts to make sure they’re connected, are free of holes or cracks, and do not have any obstructions inside of them. All of these issues can reduce the airflow of your AC system. Of course, some of your ductwork may be concealed behind walls or ceilings. That’s where a heating and cooling professional can step in and investigate.
- Dirty condenser coils – As mentioned before, your condenser unit is most likely outside. This makes it prone to weather and other environmental conditions. When the condenser coils become covered in dirt other debris, they lose their heat transfer capabilities. An HVAC expert can clean the coils and return performance back to normal.
- Low or leaking refrigerant – A refrigerant leak can be gradual or happen very quickly. Without a refrigerant charge, the AC can’t produce cool air. Once you fix the leak and add back refrigerant, the problem should be solved. An important note. Starting in January 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is phasing out the use of Freon (refrigerant R22). If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely uses this type of refrigerant. Once Freon production is discontinued, it will be much more expensive to add new refrigerant to your AC.
Most of these issues can be prevented with regular air conditioning maintenance. If you do ever find yourself with an AC blowing out warm air, try the simple fixes on this list. But if they don’t work, the smart move is to call Liberty Plumbing & Heating. Our technicians can take a look at your system, find the problem, and fix it so you don’t have to suffer in a hot house any longer. Give us a call us today at (951) 760-4215.
