In the heat of summertime, having a working air conditioning unit makes all the difference in how you feel. When your air conditioning unit decides that it’s not going to blow cold air, it can be frustrating. Here are five basic reasons that your air conditioner may not be blowing cold air and how to fix it.
Obstructed Condensation Drains
It’s important for you to first understand that your air conditioner works by absorbing moisture and heat from the air inside of the house. The humidity then condensates on the evaporator coils inside of your air conditioning unit. When this happens, the water gets collected in a drip pan inside of your unit. The drip pan has a drain line that siphons the water out of the unit. When there are times of high humidity, it’s not uncommon for mold growth to happen inside of the condensation lines. Regular flushing of your drain lines with distilled white vinegar can make a world of difference in preventing mold build-up and unit malfunction.
Leaky Refrigerant
When operating an air conditioning system, there is refrigerant inside of it. This is a gas that is to remain inside of the system. Over time, through regular wear and tear of your system, the refrigerant gas can start to leak out of the air conditioner. When this happens, the air conditioner is unable to cool the air. You’ll tend to notice this problem when your air conditioning unit hisses or there is a frozen build-up on the outside of your unit. You’ll need to look for an ac mechanic near me in order to have the refrigerant problem remedied.
Clogged Air Filter
All air conditioning units require air filters to run properly. As you run your unit, the filter will collect dust and other contaminants from your home. When this happens, the air that flows through the filter can become obstructed. This can result in your home feeling warm, energy bills going through the roof, and the coils in your air conditioning unit freezing over. If you notice a puddle once you turn your air conditioning unit off, it’s likely this is the problem. A 24 hr HVAC specialist can help you to identify what types of filters you have in your system and how often they need to be cleaned or replaced for optimum efficiency of your unit.
It Has Reached the End of Its Lifespan
Sometimes when you call a 24hr a/c repair specialist in to look at your air conditioning system, you’ll find out that your system has reached the end of its lifespan. Most air conditioners are built to last about 15 years. You can typically get more years out of your system if you provide regular maintenance to it. However, as time passes, the components inside of the system will start to fail. Instead of replacing all the little components, it’s typically more economically feasible to just replace the whole unit in general.
It’s Too Small to Make a Big Difference
The last reason that your air conditioner may not be cooling down your home is simply that it’s not capable of cooling down the size of space that you have. Oftentimes, it can seem like your air conditioning unit just isn’t able to blow cold air when it’s underpowered. Check the BTU rating and square footage ratings for the air conditioning unit that you have.
Compare this to the size of your home and you may find that your unit simply doesn’t have the power to cool down the size of the room or home that you want it to. In this case, you’re going to need to invest in another unit that has the cooling capacity for the size space that you want to utilize. Talking with a local HVAC expert can help you to determine what type of system and the best sizing to meet your individual needs.
Your air conditioner is a necessary ally in those hot summer months. It can help you to stay cool and feel great. However, when your unit stops working, it can be really uncomfortable. You want to get it fixed as quickly as possible so that you can get back to enjoying being in a comfortable environment again. To help you get your unit working again quickly, it helps to understand the possible problems that you may be experiencing. The above are five of the most common issues that you may be dealing with.