What to Do When Your HVAC is Running, But Not Cooling

Table Of Content

• Breathe Easy with Pentagon Air: Enhancing Indoor Air Quality Through HVAC Solutions
• What Stinks? Identifying Common AC Smells
• Geothermal Furnace for Your Home: A Sustainable Heating and Cooling Solution
• Heat Pump Cost Guide 2024: Installation and Replacement
• Window AC Units vs. Ductless Mini-Split Systems: What’s Best for Your Home?
• 1 AC Blowing Cool Air but Not Cooling House

At this point, it’s time to consult a professional to figure out what’s wrong. If you can easily reach the condenser coils, you can clean them yourself with a damp cloth or brush. Keep in mind that plants, bushes, and other vegetation close to the unit can hold onto dust and dirt which then get transferred to those coils with even the slightest breeze. That’s another good reason to keep the area around the outdoor unit clear. Other than the AC unit not cooling your home, a noticeable symptom of a refrigerant leak is a hissing or whistling sounds coming from your outdoor unit. This sound is indicative of air escaping through a pinhole or slice in the refrigerant line and may explain your steamy indoor temperature.

Breathe Easy with Pentagon Air: Enhancing Indoor Air Quality Through HVAC Solutions

If you have an undersized unit, it might not feel like it’s blowing cold air. By the time the air reaches the ducts, it has already warmed enough that the cooling just isn’t sufficient. Central AC units are designed to blow cool air while removing humidity and moisture from the house. Clogging can also be a symptom of the system repeatedly shutting down due to another issue. While it’s inconvenient, it’s a helpful safety feature since it prevents the AC unit from allowing filthy water to backflow into the house.

What Stinks? Identifying Common AC Smells

Incorrect thermostat settings or insufficient refrigerant are often to blame. A professional inspection can quickly identify and resolve the issue. Check out our latest Articles and News for more HVAC tips.

Geothermal Furnace for Your Home: A Sustainable Heating and Cooling Solution

When in doubt, reference your thermostat's owner's manual to ensure you're using it properly. Every ounce of air that the air conditioner outputs have to go through the air filters. That means that the total airflow can be restricted if the filters are clogged.

They can also provide you with a quote on how much a new unit will cost. According to our research, a new air conditioner installation costs between $3,800 to $7,500 without new ductwork. If your room air conditioner is beyond repair, you can find one that did well in our tests for a little over $200 for a small unit and from about $400 and up for a bigger one. Make sure you match the size of the air conditioner to the room it’s meant to cool.

A mistake in thermostat wiring is one of the most problematic causes of the air conditioner not blowing cool air. If your brand new air conditioner isn’t blowing cold air, it might not be properly wired, or the wires have not been properly fixed in thermostat sockets. All air conditioners require access to electricity to prevent them from blowing warm air. If the compressor is not getting adequate power, it would be able to compress the R410A or R22 refrigerant. The consequence will be no heat exchange and it will result in the air conditioner blowing same-temperature air. If the air conditioner is blowing cold air but not cooling the house, the home could be leaking air to the outside.

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. No matter which type of air conditioner you have, a clogged air filter restricts airflow, decreasing efficiency and reducing the unit’s ability to cool the air effectively.

Window AC Units vs. Ductless Mini-Split Systems: What’s Best for Your Home?

Check the manual that came with your air conditionerto find out how to access your filters. Your HVAC contractor who installed your AC equipment should ensure they install a properly sized system for your home. If you have an undersized unit, then it is likely that you will regularly experience problems with your AC unit running but not cooling your home. If this is caused by a system that is undersized, unfortunately the only solution is to replace it with a properly sized unit. It's important to note that if your refrigerant is leaking, then you should focus on repairing the leak rather than simply adding more refrigerant.

Some specific air handlers (indoor unit) have a built-in safety switch (“condensate airflow switch”) that turns the cooling off in an event of drainage failure. Ice buildup in the air conditioner is actually one of the most frequent issues we face. Basically, the parts in the interior of the AC unit freeze it as a consequence of a series of events all started by low airflow. If the drain is clogged, the air conditioner will accumulate water.

These issues can not only make your home uncomfortable but also spike your energy bills. Recognizing these signs early can help you address the problem before it escalates, saving you both time and money. Trust our Expert Servicing to diagnose and repair your HVAC issues. A clogged air filter will reduce airflow and decrease the efficiency of the system and make it difficult to cool the air properly. This is the substance which absorbs excess indoor heat and releases it outside.

Before performing any do-it-yourself (DIY) air conditioner maintenance, ensure that the unit is completely powered off. This can be done through the exterior shutoff box or your home’s breaker box. Repairing an air conditioner can cost anywhere from $100 to more than $1,000. To avoid pricey repairs, it’s important to prioritize AC repair and maintenance. Fortunately, there are a few tasks you can tackle on your own. A professional will evaluate your home’s size and provide the best options for your cooling needs and budget.

The air in your home carries a large amount of pollutants. Dirt, pet dander, pollen, and dust are captured by the air filter before the air is cooled and returned to your space. There are several possible reasons your air conditioner is working but not cooling your home. To fix the AC not blowing cold air problem, just turn the switch back on.

The air passing through the coil will not be cooled down enough which will result in our AC not blowing the chilly cold air. Before, the air was cooled by cooling coils with superb heat-exchange coefficient. Now, there is ice covering them, and ice might be cold but it has a much lower heat-exchange coefficient than AC cooling coils.

The Most Energy-Efficient Way to Cool Your Home - Bloomberg

The Most Energy-Efficient Way to Cool Your Home.

Posted: Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

When the filters become clogged, air flow decreases and you’ll notice the AC running but not cooling to your selected temperature. Most suggest being cleaned or changed every 60 to 90 days, but if your filter needs to be replaced before then, make the change. From a simple flip of the switch to replacing the AC compressor, these solutions will help get your HVAC system back up and running. When you discover your air conditioner not blowing cold air, give these remedies a try. When summer heat hits its peak, you need your home central air system to function properly.

We rely on window air conditioners to keep us cool when temperatures climb. Consumer Reports expert John Galeotafiore explains how to maintain a window AC unit to ensure cool, clean air throughout the summer. If you have a forced-air heating and cooling system, regularly vacuum the registers to remove any dust buildup. Make sure that furniture and other objects aren’t blocking the airflow through your registers. Check the seals around your window AC to make sure hot air isn’t getting in and cold air isn’t seeping out. Reseal around your unit with weather stripping if necessary.

A dirty filter restricts airflow, making your AC work harder to cool your home. According to Indoor Air Quality Association, regular HVAC maintenance can reduce the risk of costly breakdowns by as much as 95%. This is a question that plagues many homeowners in Bowie, especially during the peak of summer. If your air conditioner seems to be running but isn’t effectively cooling your home, several factors could be at play. Warm air from the vents or high humidity levels inside your Bowie home are telltale signs that your AC is not cooling effectively. Another red flag is if your AC unit cycles on and off too frequently.