We get it—sweating through it when your AC isn’t working is miserable. All you want is the relief of cool air. Identifying the issue can help you know how to fix it or at least give the experts the necessary information to bring the right equipment.
These are the most common issues you’ll encounter.
1. Low Refrigerant
Refrigerant is what cools the air coming from your AC. Air conditioning systems require refrigerant to extract heat from the indoor air. The closed refrigerant line keeps the system running throughout its lifespan, but refrigerant leaks can lead to a low charge.
You can spot a leak by looking for dripping or listening for hissing sounds. Because refrigerant contains toxic chemicals, you should call our technicians for prompt repair service.
2. Clogged Air Filter
Air filters remove debris and other contaminants from the fresh, outdoor air before circulating it through the system. Dirty air filters force the system to work harder to create sufficient airflow, which can lower efficiency and performance. Clogged filters can compromise the internal components of the system, as well.
If you notice that your air conditioning is not blowing cold air, checking and replacing the air filter could provide a simple solution.
3. Frozen or Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil sits inside the interior of your air conditioning system, cycling refrigerant through the coil to absorb heat and humidity. If the evaporator coil gets dirty, it may stop working effectively. Excessive dirt and debris can lead to a frozen coil, which can cause the system to shut off too quickly, cycle room-temperature air, or break down.
Related Post: How to De-Ice a Window Air Conditioner
4. Blocked Condenser Coil
The condenser coil helps release heat from the refrigerant so the cooling process can begin again. When your condenser coils get dirty, they make it harder for the system to eliminate the heat. You may notice that the system continues to operate, but cooling efficiency starts to drop.
You can brush off the coils to clear them of grass clippings, dirt, and other debris.
5. Closed or Blocked Registers
It may seem obvious, but make sure to check the registers throughout your house to ensure they’re unobstructed. Closed or blocked registers provide little airflow. You may observe that one room feels much warmer than the others. If the register appears open, you may have a blockage in the ductwork.
6. Incorrect Thermostat Settings
In order to provide cooling, your thermostat must operate at an “auto” or “cool” setting. If you notice that your thermostat setting shows “fan” or “heat,” you should change it and see if it solves the problem. This is one of the most straightforward issues homeowners encounter—and an easy one to fix on your own if there’s a problem.
7. Thermostat Issues
Sometimes, the thermostat may have more complicated issues to address. Thermostat settings that seem correct but do not provide cooling at the right time may indicate a problem with the sensor or the thermostat’s connection to the system. Does it need new batteries? If that’s not the case, you’re probably going to need to reach out to the professionals.
8. Clogged Condensate Drain Line
Your air conditioning system releases humidity from the indoor air through a condensate drain line that leads out of your home. Like any other pipe, this drain line can accumulate dirt, algae, or ice. If your drain line has a significant blockage, the condensation will back up into the system. A clogged condensate drain line can lead to short cycling or a complete shutdown of the system.
Related Post: How To Stop And Prevent Your AC From Leaking Water
9. Tripping Circuit Breaker
A sudden surge of power can trip the circuit breaker or blow a fuse, which can cause the air conditioning system to fail. Power issues create the most likely scenario for your air conditioner not turning on. If you notice that the circuit breaker needs resetting, you can reset it and try to turn on the system again. Regular tripping may indicate other electrical issues in the system, such as faulty connections or a failing capacitor.
10. Wrong System for Your Home
When you buy a new air conditioner or furnace, you need to choose an HVAC system that’s the right size for your home. Undersized air conditioning systems often fail to keep up with the cooling load, which can lead to poor performance, low efficiency, and wear and tear on the system.
If your existing system cannot meet your needs, even after replacing the unit, you may want to consider a ductless mini-split installation service for zoned cooling and higher efficiency.
11. Leaky Ductwork
When you have air blowing out of vents but it’s not cooling the house, you need to find out where the air goes. Leaks in the ductwork can lead to conditioned air escaping before it reaches certain rooms. This conditioned air may make some rooms feel colder, while others feel uncomfortably warm. Fixing ductwork leaks can help improve performance and efficiency.
12. Faulty Compressor
Your AC’s compressor is a key component that lets your system take warm air and cool it down. If it’s not working properly, don’t be surprised when you don’t cool down the way you want. Oil leaks or stains near your AC compressor indicate that you need to contact the pros for a repair job.
13. Broken Condenser Fan
There are several reasons the condenser fan might not be kicking on to cool down your home—and you’ll probably need to contact an expert to figure out which one it is. You can check your circuit breaker to make sure the AC unit is getting power, but after that, the issue might be the fan capacitor, contactor, motor, or belt. Either way, it’s time to call the AC repair experts to come diagnose the issue.
Schedule Regular Maintenance to Minimize Air Conditioning Problems
If you want to minimize your risk for these air conditioning problems, you should schedule annual HVAC maintenance. Air conditioning maintenance helps you keep your system clean and working well, which can increase AC efficiency and reduce the chances of an unexpected breakdown.
Related Post: What to Expect During an HVAC Inspection
Call ARS/Rescue Rooter for Expert Repair
When your AC lets you down by not giving you the cold air you need, it’s time to turn to the experts at ARS/Rescue Rooter. Call us at 866-399-2885 to learn more about our services, book an appointment, or find the nearest ARS/Rescue Rooter location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if the AC is not blowing cold air?
Step one should be to go through our list above to see if you can figure out what the problem is. If it’s a simple issue like a thermostat mixup or a dirty air filter, you can probably fix the issue on your own. Otherwise, things can get complicated quickly—meaning it’s time to call in the experienced team at ARS/Rescue Rooter at 866-399-2885.
While you wait for the pros to come save the day, there are some tips to help you stay a little cooler.
Should I turn off my AC if it's not cooling?
Yes, turn the system off if it’s not doing its job. There’s clearly a problem, and you might cause further damage if you continue to use it without fixing it. If the problem is with the refrigerant, for example, which contains toxic chemicals, you don’t want to exacerbate the issue in the event of a leak.
How do I reset my air conditioner?
Resetting your AC depends on the type of HVAC system you have. Either way, start by turning off the air conditioning at the thermostat. Then head out to examine your unit. Look for a clearly marked button on the exterior.
If you can’t find a button on your AC unit, you might need to reset it using your house’s circuit breaker. Look for the switch labeled HVAC or heating/cooling or something similar. Flip it, wait at least a minute, and then turn it back on again. Give it a half-hour or so before you try to cool down your house again at the thermostat.
How long does it take for an AC to cool down?
There are quite a few variables that come into play for how long it takes for the AC to get you to the temp you’re wanting. These include:
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The temperature outside
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The age and efficiency of your AC unit
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The temperature in your home
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The room(s) you want to cool
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The cooling capabilities of your AC system
The change may be gradual, but you should slowly become more comfortable as the room temperature lowers.
How do you fix an AC that is not cold?
That depends on the problem. See our list above for the most likely culprits, but you could be looking at a refrigerant leak, fan malfunction, blocked condenser coil, leaky ductwork, or more. So, the fix will depend on what the issue ends up being. If it’s something simple like updating your thermostat settings, you may be able to handle it on your own. But if you’re unsure of the issue, you’ll probably need to reach out to the experts for a repair.
How do you unclog a condenser coil?
Sometimes, the condenser coil can get dirty or blocked and needs a good cleaning to restore it to proper working order. Follow these basic steps to unclog it:
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Buy a can or two of AC cleaner from your local hardware store. You can also make a DIY version, but you’ll want to be extremely careful not to use any corrosive ingredients.
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Turn off your AC. To be safe, you might just want to flip the switch at the breaker box until you’re done.
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Remove the covers for the AC unit and the condenser coil. They’ll probably be screwed in so have a screwdriver handy.
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Clean away any visible debris. You might find leaves or twigs that found their way in there. Get rid of that stuff!
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Vacuum the area. Use an attachment to get any accumulated dust.
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Spray the AC cleaner on the coils. Follow the instructions on the can. You should probably let the cleaner sit on the coils for 5–10 minutes.
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Hose down the area. Time to rinse off all that cleaner! Try to make sure you get it all off.
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Let the unit air dry. We don’t want to keep the cover off too long—after all, you just got it all clean! But give it a few minutes to dry.
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Put the cover back on. Reverse the steps you used to take it off. Screw everything back on.
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Restore the power. That’s it! Your condenser coil should be clear now. If that was the issue, your air conditioner can expect much better performance.
