The last thing you want on a hot summer day is the heat coming from your A/C unit. Sometimes it is an issue that can easily be fixed by homeowners with a little patience and investigation. Here are a few reasons why your A/C may be blowing warm air! If you have checked all of these potential problem areas and nothing has changed, it is highly recommended that you call a professional to do an additional repair or inspection on your A/C unit.
Check the Air Filter
Checking the air filter is one of the easiest ways to try and restore the airflow of your A/C unit. If you can’t remember the last time you changed your air filter, then you might have a blockage of debris, dirt, and dust particles that are restricting the cool air from traveling to the vents in your home.
If you are consistently changing your air filter every 1-2 months and your A/C is still blowing out warm air, you may need to call a technician to determine the problem.
Check the Thermostat Setting
Okay, so you have checked or replaced the air filter, but nothing has changed. Do not panic! Check the thermostat setting, and make sure you have the unit set to “COOL” and the fan set to “AUTO”. But if you already have these settings applied to your A/C, the next step would be to turn everything off, wait a few minutes, and try again. If you accidentally had your A/C set to “HEAT”, change it to “COOL” and see if the temperature in the room changes.
In case you have tried all these adjustments and nothing is working, open the thermostat and replace the batteries. If your A/C continues blowing warm air, consider contacting a professional.
Check for Debris
A clogged A/C prevents the heat from leaving your home. Thankfully, if you keep the area around your air conditioning unit clean, you should never experience a blockage that prevents cold air from entering your home.
However, if you recently had a storm, check your outside unit to make sure that leaves, branches, and other small debris are not on or around the A/C unit before contacting a technician.
Check Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant is what keeps the air in your home cool. This step needs to be done by a professional, as refrigerant contains extremely hazardous chemicals that can be damaging to the oxygen in your home and the environment.
If there is a leak in the refrigerant, it is important to act quickly so as not to expose you or your family to contaminated air. One way to quickly tell if you are experiencing a refrigerant leak is to check your A/C unit for ice forming anywhere on it.
