Why air conditioner not cooling

While it may sound like a surprise, a dirty air filter can significantly impact your cooling system. If you have central AC not blowing cold air, take a look at your air filter. But before checking it, make sure your system is powered off. From there, remove the filter and take a look. If everything checks out and the filter looks clean, proceed to the next troubleshooting tip. A central air conditioning unit typically has an outdoor condenser unit.

The outside of this unit usually features an outdoor coil that wraps around the condenser. If you're experiencing AC not cooling while the system is powered on, you could have a clogged or blocked coil.

Unfortunately, a wide variety of debris can find its way into this equipment, including grass, dirt, and other contaminants. This can result in a serious clog, which can lead to a system malfunction. While this can cause your unit to blow warm air instead of cold air, it can also decrease your energy efficiency and even result in a system shutdown. To troubleshoot the issue, check the condenser and clean away any debris. This area can be cleaned by a vacuum with a brush attachment, or try using a hose to gently wipe away any dirt and grime.

Still dealing with AC running but not cooling? If so, it may be time to call a professional for service. When warm air passes through this coil, heat and humidity are removed from the air, then much cooler, conditioned air is then pumped back into your home.

But on some occasions, this coil can freeze, which can result in your central AC not blowing cold air. Look out for these signs of a frozen evaporator coil:. Unfortunately, fixing a frozen evaporator problem can be very challenging.

If you have an air conditioner not cooling, these professionals can sometimes fix the problem within minutes. In order for your AC unit to work properly, refrigerant is needed. This is a chemical that flows through both your indoor and outdoor systems. The primary goal of refrigerant is to extract the heat and humidity from the indoor air before it goes outside. If you have a refrigerant leak, this can result in poor system performance and even a complete unit shutdown.

While it may sound simple to check and fix your refrigerant issue, this is another job for a dependable HVAC technician. They can easily check your refrigerant levels and make any necessary adjustments. Your ducts are another location where a leak may be present. As your air ducts are used to guide conditioned air throughout your home, a leak can throw a kink in the process. As many AC ducts are found in the attic, some of that warm air can travel into your ductwork, leading to an increase in indoor temps.

As repairing leaky ducts can be a serious hassle, call a professional AC service provider for assistance. If your air conditioner is working but not cooling, try these tips to restore cooling comfort to your home! Most homeowners in need of new heating or cooling equipment will do an internet search to get information. Make sure that the unit is plugged in and your thermostat is set properly. It sounds simple, but lower your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees and see if that fixes your problem- and make sure your thermostat is set to cool.

Our Maintenance Manager, John, points out that many thermostats are tricky and homeowners may be able to save themselves time and money by reading the manual. If your air conditioner still will not turn on or your coil is frozen, you may have a problem with your motor or compressor and will need to contact a professional to repair your system. If your air conditioner will turn on, and your thermostat is set properly, but your system is not cooling you may have a dirty or blocked air condenser.

Your first step is to check the outside unit and clean around and remove any debris or weeds that are blocking air circulation. Next, check your filter and make sure it is clean.

A lot of times, we find the filter is dirty, and when it restricts the air to the evaporator coil, the coil can freeze. A good test is to pull your filter out and check if you can see through it. If your air conditioner is still not cooling air, you may have a problem with your compressor or refrigerant and will need to contact a professional. AC systems use refrigerant, a chemical that transfers heat from the indoor space and moves it outdoors.

There are many types of refrigerant, including Puron and the well-known, phased out Freon , that cool the air in your AC system. When the refrigerant level is low, your AC may have problems cooling the air in your home.

It could be that the system was undercharged during installation. A refrigerant leak can cause refrigerant poisoning , although rare, and harm the environment. Incidentally, installing a UV light can help reduce the gunk that builds up in the indoor evaporator coil. It also improves air quality. This can adversely affect their functioning. Have you had pests in your attic recently? Many homeowners find that squirrels, rats and other critters have taken up residence in their attic and damaged the duct work.

We also hear about plumbers, cable providers and other home repair technicians who accidentally damage duct work in the attic. These reasons are what most commonly cause air leaks leading to a hot home.

Air ducts distribute the conditioned air throughout your home. If they have leaks, it will reduce the cooling in your home. The compressor circulates refrigerant between the indoor and the outdoor units. Other smaller and less expensive electrical parts may have gone bad which can look like a compressor failure. For example, you may need to replace the capacitor or other hard-start device which keeps the compressor going.

If your system is equipped with a ceiling saver device or float switch , it will also turn off your compressor if your condensate drain has gotten clogged. This prevents water leaks in your home.