Spring doesn’t mean much, temperature-wise, for those of us in Northwest Florida. We pretty much deal with soaring temperatures the entire year. This means our air conditioners get a lot of work. As such, without proper maintenance, they can be prone to breakdowns. Even with maintenance, an aging air conditioner can experience problems.
One such problem is an air conditioning system that blows out warm air. Sometimes this can be due to a simple mistake that’s easy for the homeowner to fix, while other times it will necessitate a call to professionals for repair. Read on to learn more!
Check Your Thermostat Settings
If you’re lucky, your air conditioner problem might not actually be an air conditioner problem at all. Rather, it could be that you’re dealing with a thermostat that’s either been set incorrectly, is in heating mode, or has malfunctioned.
First, check to make sure that your thermostat is actually in cooling mode and not in heating mode or simply “ON.” If it’s in the “ON” position, then the blower fan may be spinning, but your compressor won’t be running and the refrigerant process won’t be happening—meaning you’re simply moving air.
What you want instead if for your air conditioner to be in “AUTO” mode. This ensures that your fan only comes on when the cooling function is on.
Blocked Air Filter
It may be that your air conditioner simply needs a new air filter. The air filter that comes with your AC prevents dust and dirt from getting into the sensitive components of your air conditioner. So naturally, it can eventually become clogged up. When this happens, it restricts airflow and you will likely feel less air, which you might interpret as less cooling.
If a clogged air filter is left in your system for too long, it can lead to frozen coils, short-cycling, and, subsequently, increased energy bills.
The good news is, changing the air filter is something you can, and should, be doing on your own! It will depend on the type of air filter and the level of contaminants in your home, but air filters should typically be changed every 1-3 months.
Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioner, whether it’s a central system or a ductless one, relies on refrigerant. Without this refrigerant, the heat transfer process that makes cooling possible just won’t happen. Refrigerant leaks are the biggest culprit for lost refrigerant—you shouldn’t be losing any refrigerant otherwise.
Leaks may start small and get gradually worse, which can cause a host of problems such as:
- Frozen coils preventing the absorption of heat.
- Compressor failure causing a complete system breakdown.
- Inconsistent cooling.
In addition to the loss of cooling or airflow you might feel, a refrigerant leak is also signaled by a hissing noise. Or it could sound something like bubbling. If you detect any unfamiliar noises, actually, you should call an AC pro just to be on the safe side.
Contact Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc. for your air conditioning in Milton, FL.