5 Reasons Why Your AC is Blowing Hot Air

It is assumed that an AC unit that is running continuously will cool indoor air sufficiently. But often, although the temperature settings are right, the AC is in fact blowing warm air instead of cool air. And no matter how long the AC runs, your rooms still feel stuffy and humid.

This means that there is some problem in the cooling mechanism of your unit. You can get an HVAC technician to inspect the problem and solve it. But there are certain things you can check for yourself and save time, energy, and money which is something anyone in North California should want to do.

Here are a few important reasons why your AC may be blowing hot air instead of cold.

1. Thermostat settings

This is one of the most common causes of your AC blowing warm air. Thermostat settings need to be adjusted after a season change. It is also crucial to make sure that all family members agree on a temperature and then don’t tamper with the thermostat later. Sometimes, kids, pets, or toys may accidentally change the settings. So, if your AC is blowing warm air, check the thermostat settings; along with the batteries and connection to the AC unit.

2. Refrigerant leak

The refrigerant is what flows through the system to cool the air. If coolant levels drop, due to a leak, the AC will lose its cooling power and only blow warm air. In case you notice this happening, get a technician to check for any possible refrigerant leak. This will have to be sealed and the coolant will have to be topped up.

3. Unclean air filters

Air filters of the AC are meant to remove dirt, contaminants and other particles from air. Over time, the filters will get clogged due to all this grime settling on them. Therefore, air will not pass through and the coils will not be able to absorb the heat from the air. The fan will blow the same air back into your house without cooling it. So, clean and change the air filters regularly to ensure that the AC does not blow warm air.

4. Leaky ducts

Air flow problems can arise due to leaky ducts too. In case there are minor leaks in the ductwork of your HVAC system, all the conditioned air will be lost to the environment and no cool air will reach the air vents in the rooms.

You will hence receive warm air or no air at all. This is a big waste of energy and will raise your utility bills as the AC will try to compensate for the loss. If your ducts are easily accessible, you can check them on your own, but it is better to let a professional technician handle the inspection, cleaning, and repairing of ducts.

5. Power loss to outdoor unit

Certain systems have an indoor air handler and an outdoor condenser. If the indoor unit is working well, the fan will blow air into your house but without the condenser unit cooling the air, it will only be warm.