There’s nothing worse than trying to relax inside on a hot day and finding out that your air conditioning unit is blowing warm air. With North Carolina temperatures hitting 100 degrees during the peak of summer, having your A/C unit working in tip-top condition is a necessity.
It’s important to know the reasons why your air conditioner could be blowing warm air ahead of time so you aren’t stuck sweating this summer. Here are some factors that play into why your AC is blowing warm air, and our suggestions on how to avoid and fix them:
1. Thermostat Setting
The first and easiest way to see why your A/C system is blowing warm air is to check your thermostat settings. Be sure your system is set to “COOL,” your fan is switched to “AUTO,” and your temperature setting is below what the room temperature reads on your thermostat. You should also consider a programmable thermostat that can keep the temperature consistent inside of your home while saving you money on your energy bill.
2. Dirty Air Filters
Cleaning your air filter is extremely important, and having a dirty air filter clogging up your system tends to be the common culprit for your A/C not working properly. If your air filter is dirty, then the passage of cool and warm air inside your ducts is blocked. This then leads to your evaporator coils freezing which results in your air conditioner blowing out warm air. While you can change out your air filter during routine HVAC unit maintenance, you will need one of our professionals to clean your evaporator coil.
3. Dirty Condenser Coils
Your air conditioner’s condenser coils remove heat from the air and expel it outside of your house. Condenser coils are a part of your outdoor unit and therefore are exposed to elements over time that cause dirt and grime to build up on the coils, impeding the transfer of heat. You can prevent this from happening by regularly checking your outdoor unit to make sure that there isn’t any dirt, leaves, tall grass, or debris that is blocking the condenser coils’ airflow.
4. Low or Leaking Refrigerant
Losing refrigerant in your A/C unit means losing cool air, due to your unit requiring a proper refrigerant charger to cool your home. It’s important to note that the refrigerant in your unit isn’t used up like gas, so being low on this means you have a leak. In order to get this fixed properly, we highly recommend calling one of our HVAC technicians to locate and repair your leak before adding more refrigerant into your unit.
5. Leaky Air Ducts
If you notice a spike in your energy bills this summer, there’s a chance that you have a leak in an air duct that is disrupting your unit’s cooling process. Your ducts run through your walls and ceilings and carry cool air throughout your home. If there are leaks in your ducts, the air will get trapped in your walls. If you suspect that your air ducts are leaking, you’ll need to get in touch with our team of HVAC technicians so they can inspect your ducts, make any necessary repairs, and block any holes.
We highly recommend getting preventative A/C maintenance done now to keep your air conditioner from blowing warm air and later prevent a costly breakdown from occurring. Contact us today to learn more about how our maintenance plans will help you save money every season!