Why Is My Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air?

Dreading another hot long sizzling summer with crappy air conditioning? Seemingly inescapable heat seems to wear everyone down. Cool and immediate relief is an important thing to keep on the day’s agenda!

If you find yourself making excuses to leave home for a cooler place like the grocery store, S&S Heating and Cooling is here to help. Let us inspect all parts of your cooling system and make the necessary repairs to get you back and comfortable at home! If a replacement is needed, we will recommend an upgrade that best suits your needs.

Let’s look at the following common factors that can prevent your air conditioning from performing at its best. Do not hesitate to contact us today with any concerns about your A/C!

What’s Causing Hot Air From the A/C Unit?

It can be extra annoying when your air conditioning is only blowing hot air compared to it not blowing at all! There could be a few reasons why your A/C unit is not doing what it should.

Troubleshooting with the following solutions is a great place to start fixing the problem.

Change Out the Filter

How often is the air filter changed? If you honestly can’t remember, that might be part of the problem.

The air filter in your home is tasked with catching dust, pollen, pet dander, and other pollutants in the air. If the filter becomes clogged, air can’t move freely through the system as needed. Low airflow means the outdoor unit can’t properly complete the cooling cycle.

The result: An air conditioner blowing hot air into your space.

Did you know? An air filter should be replaced every 60 to 90 days, which can vary depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Failure to change out your filter just might cause further damage to the system. Take a marker next time and write the change date on the filter as a reminder!

Inspect the Thermometer

If your thermometer is older than 10 years, perhaps it may be malfunctioning, so it could warrant a newer, smarter replacement.

First, be sure it has a new battery. The device should be set to “auto-cool” with an adjustable temperature setting to ensure the most comfortable environment.

Check to be sure the fan is set to “auto: and not “on.” Otherwise, you might be fooled into thinking there’s something wrong with your unit. When only the fan is operating, it circulates the air in your home without cooling it, which can make it feel like your A/C unit is blowing hot air.

If your A/C unit is older than 15 years, you might be needing an upgrade.

Check Refrigerant Level

The HVAC system that cools your home uses refrigerant as part of the mechanical process that transfers hot energy from inside to the outdoor unit to be cooled. The refrigerant then delivers the cool air back indoors.

When the refrigerant is low or even worse, if there’s a leak in the system, it will feel as if your A/C is blowing hot air.

A refrigerant leak can also cause a whistling sound as well as making the indoor air very uncomfortable. Maybe it’s time to schedule an A/C maintenance appointment to check the refrigerant level, along with the rest of the system!

A professional AC technician can refill the refrigerant, recharge the system, and even replace any torn line if necessary.

Look for Frozen Evaporator Coils

A frozen evaporator coil can be caused by a dirty air filter or a clogged evaporator coil. The evaporator coil absorbs the heat energy from the air in your home. It’s housed in the outdoor unit and works with the condenser coil to return cool air into your space.

Improper airflow will cause the component to freeze and block any cool air from returning to your home. Call your HVAC technician if you see visible frost from the outside that doesn’t subside even after recently changing the filter.

Scheduling seasonal maintenance, which includes cleaning the coil, can prevent the coil from freezing in the future.

Contact S&S Heating and Cooling in Southeast Minnesota

For all your residential and commercial heating, cooling, and plumbing needs, S&S Heating and Cooling can complete any of your AC repairs or recommend replacing them.

Ask us about our quiet and energy-efficient, ductless systems. Family owned, we strive to provide quality, trustworthy service.

Fill out a free estimate form or call us at 507-796-6391.