When you hit the hot summer months, the last thing that you need is an AC system that stops producing sufficient cool air to make your home more comfortable. Running an AC system that is not working as intended is a total waste of money, and when the temperature heats up, it can make the home intolerably hot. This can occur for a number of reasons, perhaps your cool air has slowed down, or maybe it has stopped entirely? In this article, we will look at some of the most common reasons why your AC system may not be producing enough cool air to maintain your indoor comfort during the cooling season.
Do You Need to Call Out an HVAC Technician?
Firstly, it’s important to understand that when your AC system is failing to produce enough air, it can be a simple or complex problem. You will notice during the remainder of this article that some problems can be easily fixed by the homeowner with little to no knowledge or air conditioning systems. Other problems certainly need a trained HVAC technician. If you don’t have formal training, a repair should not be attempted. A modern HVAC system is complex; it has electronic, electrical, and moving mechanical parts. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy to cause more damage leading to a more expensive repair bill or even a replacement in extreme cases. So, if you’re not confident about a simple fix or you have a more technical problem, call your local HVAC technician.
4 Simple AC System Cooling Solutions
If your air conditioning is not producing adequate cool air, try these four simple fixes first.
- Check the Thermostat Settings
You may be surprised to learn that many HVAC technicians are called to a home only to discover that the thermostat settings are incorrect. The thermostat acts as the central brain of your entire HVAC system, and if it isn’t set up correctly, your performance will be degraded. Check that your thermostat is set to “Auto” rather than “On” or “Fan Only” mode and adjust the temperature to your desired setting for the hotter months.
- Clean the Air Filter
The air filter removes particulates from the air running through your air conditioner system. Particles such as dust, debris, and hair can damage the sensitive components in your AC system. As the air filter becomes clogged, it will impede the airflow, and this can force your AC system to work harder to compensate. This can damage components such as the evaporator coil leading to an expensive repair bill. Overworked equipment consumes more energy, and this will be reflected in higher energy bills. Check your air filter each month, if it looks dirty clean or replace it depending on whether you use a disposable or replaceable filter.
- Check the Circuit Breaker
If there is no power supplied to the indoor unit, the fan will not turn on, and the treated air cannot be distributed through your home. The rest of your AC system may be running fine, but you won’t feel any cool air coming from your vents. Check your electrical panel to see if any circuits have been tripped and reset them as required.
- Clean the Outdoor Unit
The indoor unit absorbs heat from inside your home and transfers it to the outdoor unit for dispersal. But, if your outdoor unit is dirty or blocked, the system will struggle to disperse the heat efficiently. Remove any clutter or debris that may have gathered around the outdoor unit and keep it clear. Then take your garden hose, set it to a gentle spray, and clean the outside of the unit thoroughly. Don’t use high pressure water, or you may damage the aluminum fins inside the outdoor unit.
4 Complex AC System Cooling Problems
If your AC system is still not producing cool air, it’s time to contact a local HVAC technician. Here are four of the most common AC system problems.
- A Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the circulatory system of your air conditioning system, and it must be kept under pressure to work correctly. The refrigerant removes the gathered heat from your home and moves it outdoors to keep your home comfortable. But, if you have a refrigerant leak, the performance will be impeded, and the compressor can burn out, leading to an expensive repair bill. Some people may be tempted to recharge their refrigerant, but this is a bad idea, and it’s a better idea to hire a local HVAC technician. Locating leaks and fixing them is tricky, and mixing different refrigerant types lowers the efficiency.
- A Broken Compressor Unit
The compressor places the refrigerant under pressure to start the entire cooling cycle. When the compressor is broken, the AC system simply cannot produce any cool air. There are a number of possible causes, such as dirty parts, the start capacitor, or a burnt out motor. Contact a local qualified technician, and they can fix the compressor for you.
- A Faulty Fan Motor
The AC system draws the warmer air over the evaporator coils to remove the heat. This treated air is then pushed back into your home. This cycle is repeated constantly when the AC system is turned on to keep your home comfortable. If the fan is faulty, this process is affected, and the cooling performance could be significantly impaired.
- Air Duct Leaks
The air duct system distributes the treated air throughout the home, and if there are any leaks, the air can escape. The air in the attic can be hot during the summer; it can escape through your ducts and into your home. This will make your home feel hotter, and it may appear that your AC system is blowing little to no cool air. Air ducts degrade over time, but a poor installation or a rodent infestation can also impair performance. Get your ducts, inspected, cleaned, and repaired by a local HVAC technician to restore cooling performance and efficiency.