Troubleshooting An Air Conditioner That Is Blowing Warm Air

Posted on: 4 June 2018

In the hot summer months, your air conditioning system is arguably the most important appliance within your home, as it works to keep the interior temperature of your house at a comfortable level. An air conditioner that is now blowing warm air can represent quite a problem: not only will the interior of your home quickly become uncomfortable to stay within, but your energy bills will increase for absolutely no gain. Understanding some of the most common reasons why your air conditioning unit may be blowing warm air can help you identify the problem quickly and get your unit working properly again as soon as possible.

Old Air Filter

The most common reason why your air conditioner may be blowing warm air, and also may not be blowing a whole lot of air at all through your vents, is because the air filter within your air conditioner is old and thus clogged with a significant amount of dust and debris. A clogged air filter will make it harder for your air conditioner to pull air through its system and distribute it through your ductwork, reducing the cooling power of the entire system. Fortunately, you can replace the filter yourself by simply opening up the casing (either with a screwdriver or wrench, but sometimes also by hand) and bringing it with you to a hardware store to match its size to a replacement.

Dirty Condenser

The condenser is the exterior unit of your air conditioning system, and basically acts as an air intake for the entire system. A condenser that is clogged with dirt, leaves, and other debris will negatively affect the performance of the entire system, and can also cause your system to begin to blow warm air as a result. To alleviate this problem, you should clear away any twigs, branches, and wash off dirt and grime which may have become stuck on the unit.

Refrigerant Loss

In severe cases, where the components of your air conditioner have become physically damaged, leaks in the lines can take hold, which can allow the refrigerant inside to escape. This effectively reduces your air conditioner into a whole house fan, as without refrigerant it will be physically unable to cool down the air that passes through it. You will have to contact a contractor for a holistic professional inspection is necessary to determine where the leak is and to repair it before the system's refrigerant levels can be refilled.

Contact a service, like Pell City Heating & Cooling Inc, for more help.

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HVAC For The Layman

Do you remember the last time your air conditioner died? Although you might have been tempted to write off the problem as a simple quirk, serious air conditioning issues might mean that your family gets stuck living in a hot, humid, uncomfortable environment. I have been a homeowner for a long time, and you wouldn't believe how many times I have come across issues with my HVAC systems. I want you to know how to recognize the early signs of trouble, which is why I decided to put up this page. By reading here, you might be able to learn the intricacies of HVAC in layman's terms so that you can get things resolved as quickly as possible.