Is your air conditioner not blowing cold air? Trust the HVAC experts at Georgia Air to resolve the issue promptly when you request service by calling 912-513-3756.
Your home’s air conditioning system requires regular care to keep it working. If you notice your AC not blowing cold air as it should, several problems could be the cause. It takes a skilled HVAC technician to diagnose these problems between simple thermostat or power issues and severe problems like refrigerant leaks or dirty, worn parts not operating correctly.
You may be able to fix minor AC problems yourself. Knowing what to look for can help you identify the problem and determine when to call a professional.
The last thing you want is to tolerate Georgia’s heat and humidity without air conditioning. You can enjoy cold air again after scheduling professional services when you need an AC repair in Georgetown. We give insight into 10 of the most common reasons your AC isn’t blowing cold air.
1. No Power to Your AC
Electricity is your AC’s main power source. Without it, your AC won’t blow cool air because the compressor isn’t receiving power. Luckily, this solution often has an easy fix.
Check that the air conditioner’s power cable is plugged in and undamaged, and ensure the cable can support the unit’s voltage needs. If nothing is wrong, check the breaker box and see whether it has tripped. Resetting a tripped breaker box should restore the power flow to your AC system.
Other times, a blown fuse may be the culprit. This issue often occurs in the wake of a power surge.
If none of these issues are evident, it could be a safety switch preventing power from reaching your AC unit to prevent a system overload. Resetting it will restore your AC’s power.
2. Clogged Air Filter Causing Overheating
If the AC is not blowing cold air, another simple fix is to replace the air filter. An HVAC system air filter collects dirt, hair, debris, dust, and other airborne contaminants in your environment. A dirty filter needs routine changing to prevent airflow clogs.
Without proper airflow, your AC system cannot effectively cool your home. Your system will overheat, causing warm air to blow instead. In extreme cases, this could lead to a system shutdown.
Fixing this problem is easy. Turn off the power to your unit, remove the dirty air filter, and replace it with a clean one. Changing air filters frequently—at least every six months—will help prevent clogs.
3. Frozen Coils Due to Low Airflow
Extensive overheating issues aren’t the only kind of problem you can experience. Another problem caused by the AC not blowing cold air is frozen coils. Low airflow from a clogged filter results in overheating and causes condensation to form on the evaporator coil inside the unit.
Too much dirt on the coils causes the refrigerant to freeze the condensation. As ice builds, the unit’s cooling power decreases. Eventually, too much ice will cause the air conditioner to produce warm air or stop working altogether.
Look inside the air handler. If you notice ice on the AC evaporator coil, turn off the system and let it thaw. Then, contact a professional for AC maintenance and cleaning to prevent future issues.
4. Refrigerant Leak Preventing Proper Cooling
A refrigerant leak is a common and serious cause of an AC not blowing cold air. These leaks don’t always occur suddenly. Neglecting to address them results in less cooling power.
Your AC system should never be without an inadequate amount of refrigerant. Less refrigerant only occurs with leaks, as the fluid has no exit otherwise. Leaks can also cause mechanical problems in parts that process refrigerant.
Symptoms indicating you have a leak include your AC:
- Taking longer to cool your home than usual
- Making a hissing sound during operation
Repairing a refrigerant leak requires specialized training. You’ll need professional repairs to resolve it.
5. Leak in Air Ducts Releasing Cool Air
Years of wear and tear, pests, and water damage to your air ducts can easily contribute to your AC not blowing cold air. Without normal maintenance and ductwork cleaning, homeowners can miss these repair demands.
Cold air escapes from your air ducts before reaching your vents. Instead of cooling your rooms, the air seeps into your crawlspaces and inside your home’s walls, eventually leaking from your roof and other openings.
To resolve this problem, you’ll need a professional to inspect the ductwork and make repairs. They can replace damaged ductwork or patch salvageable ductwork. In some cases, they may only need to conduct a thorough cleaning.
6. Dirty Condenser Improperly Intaking Air
Another reason for your AC not blowing cold air is a dirty outdoor unit. The outdoor condenser unit takes in hot air and carries it into your home to cool. Dirt, leaves, and other natural debris can get inside the condenser, blocking the airflow and preventing cool air from entering your home.
It’s relatively simple to clean your condenser. Turn off the power, inspect it for debris, dirt, and other contaminants that could hinder its effectiveness, then wipe away visible dirt with a soapy rag.
Other solutions include purchasing a protective covering for your air conditioner’s outdoor unit and ensuring the area around it is free of natural debris, vegetation, and other things that could get stuck inside the condenser’s parts.
7. Dirty Compressor Not Compressing Refrigerant
Despite having normal refrigerant levels, a dirty compressor in the outdoor unit is another reason for the AC not blowing cold air. As the compressor does its job of cooling the warm air, it causes the refrigerant to decrease in temperature. If the compressor is too dirty, it will malfunction.
A malfunction results in the compressor’s failure to cool the warm air as it passes over the evaporator coil.
While debris is one of the primary reasons for the compressor not working properly, rainfall, high winds, grass clippings, and pests are other common offenders that contribute to its shutdown. Mold, sludge, and other growth may also form and cause problems.
To fix a dirty compressor, contact an HVAC professional. They’ll clean it for you (or replace it if cleaning doesn’t resolve the issue).
8. Thermostat Issues Preventing Proper AC Operation
Sometimes, the problem and solution for an AC not blowing cold air are simpler than you think. The following problems are possible:
- Low thermostat batteries: When thermostat batteries get too low, they can show a false reading. In other cases, a low battery doesn’t have the power to communicate with your AC system. Change the batteries and see whether the problem persists.
- Thermostat is not at the correct temperature: The simplest reason you might not have AC is if the thermostat isn’t at the right setting. Ensure the set temperature is lower than the room’s temperature to engage your air conditioning system. If you do this and there’s still no cold air, call a professional.
- Improper thermostat installation: A precise installation is instrumental in preventing future problems. Improper wiring when installing your thermostat can lead to corrosion and electrical issues. You’ll need HVAC assistance from licensed pros.
9. Clogged AC Drain Causing Compressor Shutdowns
All air conditioners have a drainage pan and line that help eliminate condensation from the system’s interior. The condensation falls into the drainage pan and travels down the drain pipe to the outdoors. Eventually, bacteria and dirt in this water cause mold and sludge to form.
If the drain pipe clogs with sludge and debris, water backs up into the AC unit. This flooding can cause electrical issues or compressor shutdowns.
Removing the water and eliminating the clog are typically easy DIY tasks. You can remove clogs with household cleaning solutions, vacuum the debris out with a wet vacuum, or replace the pipes. Scheduling regular maintenance will prevent this issue from occurring again.
10. Incorrectly Sized Air Conditioning Unit Struggling To Cool Your Home
Sometimes, an improperly sized air conditioning system leads to poor cooling performance. Especially small AC systems may never help your home reach the ideal temperature.
If the unit is too small for your home’s cooling needs, it will struggle to keep up with your temperature demands. The components don’t have enough power to cool your home, while the thermostat continuously detects this failure to maintain the correct temperature. This cycle results in high energy bills in addition to your home never feeling cool.
Contact Georgia Air for AC Repairs Today
As with anything involving your AC, it’s always best to consult a professional. And while the above are some of the most common reasons your AC isn’t blowing cold air, other issues could be the cause. Get routine AC maintenance and schedule air conditioner repairs as soon as you notice problems to save money.
Is your AC not blowing cold air? Trust the Georgia Air team in Richmond Hill, GA, to learn more about the possible reasons your home heating isn’t working. Call 912-513-3756 today!