Imagine the scene – you arrive home after a hard day’s work, and although everything seems normal, there is something not quite right. At first, you can’t put your finger on it. Then it hits you – your air conditioner is running but not cooling.
It’s not a very pleasant scenario and can easily happen. Even though we rely on our conditioning to keep us comfortable, we also tend to take it for granted. In fact, most people are usually only thinking about it when something goes wrong. And this means they neglect regular maintenance and end up asking themselves the question – why is my air conditioner not cooling the house?
The answer to the above question can be one of several problems, some serious, some not. For your convenience, we’ve divided them up into problems you can tackle yourself and the ones you should call a technician to deal with.
Problems for DIY enthusiasts
- Blocked off vents or ducts
Have you moved any furniture around in your home recently? Or have any construction work been done? If so, you might have blocked off some of your vents or ductwork. As your air conditioner is designed as a system, blocking off bits of it or closing vents in rooms you don’t use so much will have a negative impact on its overall performance. Check that all your vents are open and clear of obstructions.
- Dirty air filters
If your air filters are dirty, the air flowing into your AC is reduced. The first symptom of this that you will notice is your AC not cooling, but it can quickly develop into frozen coils, a more serious problem. Check your air filters regularly and change them at least once a year.
- Your outside unit is dirty
Your AC cools your house by absorbing heat through the inside unit (the evaporator). This heat is then transferred to the outside unit (the condenser) which releases it into the environment. However, if the condenser gets clogged with leaves and debris, the heat can’t escape, and eventually gets fed back into your home. Check that your outside unit is clean and free of debris.
Problems for the professionals
- Broken condenser fan
As we said, the condenser is responsible for dispersing the heat accumulated in your system. It does this with the aid of a fan. If this is broken or not working properly, the heat will remain in the system. If your ac isn’t cooling and your condenser is making more noise than usual, get it looked at immediately.
- Refrigerant leak
This is one of the worst problems an AC unit can develop. Refrigerant is the lifeblood of your system, so you can imagine what the ultimate consequences of it leaking away can be. You can read all about how to detect a leak and what to do about it here.
- Problems with your compressor
If the refrigerant is the blood of the system, then the compressor is its heart, pumping the refrigerant round and round. If it starts to fail, you might need to replace the whole system. Read more about compressor failure and the common causes here.
AC not cooling after power outage
These are some of the causes of an air conditioner not blowing cold air. As you can see, some are more serious than others. But they can all be avoided with regular maintenance of your unit, so call to book a visit today and avoid costly and uncomfortable AC breakdowns in the future.
