As we move into the hottest months of the year in Pensacola, our air conditioning systems are going to start working harder and harder to cool our homes. If you’ve lived here for any period of time, you know this is the time of year when your air conditioner is put to the test. Is your AC blowing hot air? It might not be yet, but if it is, or in case it does, check out these 8 possible causes so you can quickly solve the problem.
1. Dirty Air Filters
One of the simplest possible fixes for your AC blowing hot air is changing a dirty filter. If you haven’t changed the air filter in your air conditioning system recently, your system could be working unnecessarily hard to try and cool your home. Dirty filters also create restricted air flow that prevents the coils from properly removing heat, resulting in the hot air you feel coming out of your vents. If the filter gets dirty enough, the system’s safety mechanism may engage, leaving you with no air conditioning at all.
Change your filter every 1-3 months, more often if you have pets or allergy sufferers in the home. Changing your filter regularly will help keep your system running smoothly and comfortably throughout the summer.
2. Wrong Thermostat Setting
While it might seem like an obvious solution, it can be easy to forget to switch over to “cool” after winter. Your thermostat also has a “fan” setting. Keeping your fan set to “on” means that the system will blow air throughout your home at all times, even when it’s not cooling. This can result in warm air blowing through the vents. Switch your fan setting to “auto” so that the fan only runs when your system is cooling down your home.
3. Blocked Air Vents
If your home isn’t cooling, it may not be a problem with the system itself, but could be a problem with the air vents. If air vents are closed or obstructed, cool air is prevented from properly circulating throughout your home. Be sure to open all air vents and check floor and wall vents for furniture that may be positioned too closely. Furniture such as couches, chairs and tables can easily block airflow, causing problems for your home’s comfort.
4. Interrupted Power
If power is interrupted to one part of the system but not the other, it could be challenging to notice a problem, but if you feel hot air coming out of the vents in certain areas of your home, there are a few easy steps you can take to restore the power.
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- Check the breaker box in your house to ensure that no breakers are tripped.
- Go to the fuse panel to check for a blown fuse.
- If the problem persists, head outside to the outdoor unit, check the ON/OFF switch, and reset it to the “ON” position.
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5. Refrigerant Leak
If none of the above solutions fixed the warm air blowing from your air conditioning system, it is time to call in the professionals for a more detailed inspection. If your air conditioning system has lost efficiency, you may have noticed higher electricity bills, warmer air, and a hissing sound coming from the air conditioner. This could be due to a refrigerant leak. If this is the problem, call Shannon’s Heating & Cooling to have an experienced technician inspect your system and make repairs. Our technicians will fix the problem correctly the first time and help lower the risk of future leaks.
6. Air Flow Problems
If there is a problem in the air ducts, air could be prevented from flowing properly through the system. In some situations, the air cannot find its way through the air ducts to the rest of your home due to blockages or leaks. If there are cracks or damage to the ductwork, warm air could be entering into your home.
It can be challenging to access all areas of your ductwork, and working with specialized tools and a delicate hand is important to ensure no other damage occurs. The technicians at Shannon’s Heating & Cooling are trained to properly inspect ductwork to fix any issues and ensure no further damage is incurred.
7. Evaporator Coils
If your air conditioning system’s evaporator coils have frozen, it could be the cause of warm air flowing through your home. The evaporator coils remove heat from the outside air as it passes through your system to provide your home with cool, comfortable air. During times of high humidity, excess moisture can cause the system to freeze, reducing its ability to cool the air.
When evaporator coils freeze, sometimes the best solution is patience. Turn off the air conditioning system for 24 hours. Be sure not to turn the system on before a full 24 hours have passed, or you may need to restart the process. During this time, any ice formed on the system should have melted and your system should begin working properly again. If this doesn’t fix the problem or if it happens again, call Shannon’s Heating & Cooling, as further inspection is needed.
8. Condenser Coils
If the indoor unit is not the problem, it is time to look at the outdoor unit. The outdoor system, also known as the condenser, is the part of the system that ejects additional warm air. Because this system is outside, things like sticks, leaves, and dirt can build up around the coils, preventing them from doing their job properly. If the condenser fails to eject heat properly, it can cause the air conditioning system to blow warm air into your home. To clean dirty condenser coils, start by removing any large debris with gloved hands. Once the larger pieces are gone, use a garden hose to wash away any dirt on the coils.
What Next?
If you are still struggling with your AC blowing hot air, we are here to help. For more information on our air conditioning solutions, contact us today at https://shannonshvac.com/contact-us/. We care about the comfort of your whole home and want to help keep you cool this summer.
Feel free to call us at (850) 698-3101 or email us at info@shannonshvac.com with any questions or inquiries. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
