If you live in the Sarasota area, you know how important it is for your air conditioner to function correctly. Nothing is worse than an A/C unit that stops working unexpectedly, especially during hot or humid weather. Whether the system stops entirely or if it begins to blow warm air instead of cool air, you want it fixed – and fixed fast! It doesn’t take long for a home to get uncomfortably hot and humid, so moving quickly is key.
To facilitate fixing an A/C malfunction without losing your cool, we’ve assembled some tips and tricks to help you troubleshoot your situation.
Possible Reasons That Your A/C is Blowing Warm Air
The first step to rapidly diagnosing an A/C issue is to understand how the HVAC system works and what may have gone wrong to cause the malfunction.
Your air conditioner utilizes refrigerant, a liquid that moves over the evaporator coils to absorb the heat that is present in your house. For air to circulate properly throughout the home, your AC unit’s fan must blow the refrigerant, propelling cold air through the ductwork and circulating the air indoors.
This is a general explanation of how your house remains cool, but you also need to know the potential problems that may be causing your AC to produce hot air.
Refrigerant is Low: As discussed above, low refrigerant levels could represent the primary issue of a lack of cold air. If the system is low on refrigerant, there may be a leak. A professional technician needs to assess the unit and identify any leaks, and they can then determine if the leak can be fixed or if the unit must be replaced.
Did You Know? As of this year, the R-22 refrigerant (Freon) traditionally used in air conditioning units is being phased out. Because of this, R-22 is hard to obtain and may be very expensive. (Click here to learn more about Freon and the new replacement refrigerants.)
Dirty Filter: Although changing A/C filters may seem an obvious solution, it is a solution that many people need to remember to implement. When homeowners forget to change their filters regularly, the cool air produced by the A/C unit is blocked from coming through the air vents. Therefore it is essential to routinely check and replace A/C filters at least once every three months. Expert Tip: If you have animals in your home, check your filters more often, as they tend to get clogged with your pet’s fur.
Remember, some houses have more than one air filter.
Evaporator Coil: The evaporator coil is integral to the correct function of your HVAC unit, as the refrigerant passes through the evaporator coils to remove heat from the air. However, coils can get dirty or experience mold and mildew buildup. If any of these things happen, the refrigerant can freeze up and stop flowing. This can cause your A/C system to blow warm air and fail to cool your home.
While the above issues are among the most common problems your A/C unit may experience, they are by no means the only issues you may face. If your A/C system is not working correctly, blowing warm air, or running inefficiently, it is vital to call for expert help. Allowing the problem to persist can cost you a lot of money, waste energy, and even cause damage to your A/C unit. If you have questions or would like a professional to inspect your residential A/C system, call Ocean Air today.
Ocean Air services clients from North Port to Plant City.