It’s summertime and living is supposed to be easy, but why is your A/C unit blowing hot air? This can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to stay cool during a heatwave.
But don’t despair, there are some potential solutions to this problem. Let’s look at a few of them!
Dirty components
One potential reason why your A/C unit is blowing hot air is that some of the components are dirty. Over time, dust and dirt can build up on the coils and other parts of the unit. This can prevent them from working properly, causing the unit to blow hot air instead of cold. More specifically, the parts that are usually the culprits are a dirty air filter, a dirty evaporator coil, or dirty condenser coils (this is the part of the system where the warm air is supposed to be released outdoors).
To clean the condenser, you’ll need to turn off the power to the unit and then access the coils. You can use a brush or vacuum attachment to remove any dirt and debris. Once you’re done, make sure to rinse off the coils with water.
And of course, changing out your air filter is an easy fix, but cleaning the evaporator coil can be a bit trickier. It’s better to enlist the help of a certified technician!
Low refrigerant levels
If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, it can also cause the unit to blow hot air. The coolant helps to absorb heat from the indoor air and then release it outdoors. So, if there’s not enough coolant, the system can’t do its job properly and hot air will be released inside your home instead. This is almost always caused by a leak, so it’s best to call a professional to take a look.
Blocked airflow
Another potential issue that can cause your A/C unit to blow hot air is a blockage in the airflow. This can be caused by dirty filters (like we mentioned before), but it can also be due to things like furniture or curtains blocking the vents. Make sure that nothing is obstructing the flow of air and that all the vents are open.
Thermostat issues
Finally, the problem may lie with your thermostat rather than the A/C unit itself. If your thermostat is set to “heat” instead of “cool,” obviously the unit is going to blow hot air! So, double-check that the thermostat is set to the correct setting. Additionally, if the batteries in your thermostat are running low, it can also cause problems. Try replacing the batteries and see if that does the trick.
If you’ve tried all these potential solutions and your A/C unit is still blowing hot air, it’s time to call a professional air conditioning repair technician. They can help to diagnose the problem and get your A/C unit back up and running in no time.
Give Weather Master a call anytime at (919) 853-7910, and we’ll be happy to help you in your Raleigh home!