When Your Is AC Blowing Hot/Warm Air: What’s Wrong With It?
An air conditioner’s compressor often stops working at the most inopportune time. When you get home from an afternoon in the sun or a full day of work, you are ready to relax and cool down. But instead of that cool air easing your body as you step back into your home, you’re blasted with hot air. Fortunately, professionals can quickly and easily fix this!
But first, it is essential to understand why this happens. Here are some of the most common reasons:
1. Your Unit Is Low in Refrigerant
Like your car, your air conditioner needs fuel to keep running. In this case, it needs refrigerant to work. Usually, this enters the outdoor unit, and the compressor works to charge it. But if the refrigerant is low, the system will not be able to function correctly.
- How to Fix It: For small leaks, use a can of refrigerant leak sealer (any auto parts store will have this). If you find that your entire unit is low, call your local repair technician.
2. Your Thermostat Is Set Wrong
The thermostats on your air conditioner may not be set correctly and may need adjustment. First, follow the manufacturer’s guide on setting up your thermostat, and always ensure the thermostat is set correctly.
If the thermostat was improperly installed, this would affect how it is set. A misplaced thermostat can cause problems for your air conditioner.
- How to Fix It: If you have a programmable thermostat, ensure it is set correctly. Also, get professionals to assess if it’s installed correctly.
3. You Have a Malfunctioning Outdoor Unit
An outdoor unit is home to several components, including:
- Evaporator: Takes in the air from your home and cools it before sending it outside through a diffuser<
- Compressor: Takes refrigerant gas and charges it before sending it to the condenser
- Condenser: Takes in the hot refrigerant and drains out the heat before sending it back to the compressor to be cooled and reheated
- Outside Coil: Helps dissipate heat from the condenser
- Drip Leg: Helps remove excess water from the condenser
So if your air conditioner is not cooling your home correctly, the problem could be an issue with one of these components.
- How to Fix It: Check your owner’s manual to see if your air conditioner has a history of malfunctioning, or call your air conditioning repair technician to analyze the problem.
4. The Condenser Is Dirty
The condenser is the outside part of your unit that takes in the refrigerant gas and cools it before sending it back to the compressor. This part often is dirty and collects dirt that could affect its ability to cool down your home.
- How to Fix It: To clean your condenser, remove the grill and wipe out debris.
5. The Evaporator Coil Is Dirty
The evaporator coil is the part inside your home that takes in the air and cools it before sending it outside to the condenser. Like the condenser, it can also get dirty quickly. Because it is inside your home, you might not even realize that it can get dirty.
- How to Fix It: Cleaning your evaporator coil is a bit more complicated since you need to begin by taking out your indoor unit and cleaning the evaporator coil. It’s best to contact an air conditioning technician to clean it.
Conclusion
Having a properly working air conditioner is always a good thing. It can save you a lot of money and time, so give your unit the care it needs, and it will last you a long time. The next time your air conditioner decides to blow hot air it might be because of one of these reasons. If you’re having trouble, contact your repair technician.
Stiles Services can help you with any air conditioning repair needs in Athens, GA. We provide affordable heating, cooling, and plumbing services to ensure your home is comfortable all year round. Contact us at 706-548-1328.
