Why Your A/C Unit Has Stopped Blowing Cold Air
Date: August 4, 2018
ARTICLES
WHY YOUR A/C UNIT HAS STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR
AUG 04, 2018
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR A/C ISN’T BLOWING AT ALL?
If your A/C is not blowing any air, there are a few reasons you are unable to enjoy a cool home. There could be some design flaws, your A/C might not be right for your home, the fans are not running optimally, or there could be some electrical problems.
First, there could be ductwork or other system design flaws in your home. It is very important that your system was designed correctly and the ducts installed properly. Ideally the ducts should deliver the right amount of air to every room. However, too many bends and turns will reduce the airflow. If the house has been rearranged and walls have been relocated, the original ductwork may not be optimal for the redesigned house. Have a Comfort Hero come inspect the ductwork in your house to make sure you have optimal airflow.
You may have too much A/C power, making it feel like the air conditioner is not blowing. The truth is than an oversized system causes airflow issues just as an undersized system will provide disappointing cooling results. If your air conditioner is too powerful, it will cycle on and off frequently, preventing it from staying on long enough to remove humidity from the air or cool the house down to a comfortable temperature. Though the A/C not blowing isn’t the same issue, it can feel as if it is not blowing.
There are fans that push the air through the ducts of your A/C system. Sometimes, these fans become covered in dust and dirt, causing the blades to rotate slower than the optimal speed. This reduces air flow through the ducts into your space, making it seem as if the air conditioner is not blowing air at all.
Lastly, be sure that the electrical panel is receiving power. If it is, reset the equipment’s switches and/or overloads. Then check the thermostat settings. If your A/C is still not blowing, contact Donley Service Center to have the professionals get your air conditioner running again.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR UNIT IS BLOWING, BUT THE A/C ISN’T BLOWING COLD AIR?
If your A/C is not cold, it is possible the pipes may have frozen over, you have an electrical short, your thermostat is not set correctly, or it is time for a new unit. A quick fix could be just turning off your unit for half an hour, then turning it back on. This can make sure the thermostat is set to the correct position, the automatic schedules get reset, and if the pipes are frozen, it will give them time to thaw.
If turning off the thermostat for a while helps, but the luke-warm air returns after a short amount of time, check your air filter. A dirty air filter puts strain on the unit and can cause the evaporator coil to freeze, preventing air flow.
Most units have a condenser outdoors to transfer heat outside. If the condenser fins are bent, the machine is dirty, or something is blocking the unit, it will not be able to get rid of the heat properly. This could be the cause of your air conditioner not cooling.
Air conditioners remove moisture from the air and drain the water out of a hose or drain pipe. These can become clogged with algae causing the unit to shut down. This is an important safety feature that prevents water from backing up and causing damages to your home or to your A/C unit. This piping can sometimes be replaced, but also can be cleaned with a mild bleach solution.
You should call a professional if your machine suffers fan motor failure, if you have low refrigerant or a refrigerant leak, if you have a failed compressor, or if you still have an A/C unit not cooling your house. Call your local Comfort Hero at Donley Service Center to save the day!