When the air in your home is hot and humid, a properly functioning air conditioner is a necessity. A problem with your air conditioner can be a big disappointment, especially if it causes your AC to blow warm air. A problem AC can make the air in your home even warmer, triggering your thermostat to crank up the AC. This can further compound the problem.
You may not be able to remain in your home while the AC is malfunctioning, costing you time, and disrupting your plans. Fortunately, a quick inspection by a professional can usually reveal the problem and help you get back to your normal routine. When your AC is blowing warm air, there are several possible issues that could be the cause.
A Faulty Thermostat
The simplest and most obvious possibility of an AC with a problem is a faulty thermostat. When a thermostat gets old or worn out, it can misread or malfunction in its regulation of the temperature in your home. A thermostat can wear out for many reasons, including overuse, overheating, or excessive humidity.
When it’s time for a new thermostat, a professional HVAC technician can perform a replacement in a few minutes. However, if the cause of the problem is overexposure to heat from sunlight or household appliances, the technician may need to install the thermostat in a new location.
Outdoor Interference
When a tree or building structure blocks airflow around your outdoor AC unit, the results can include overheating and equipment breakage. The outdoor component of an AC unit draws hot air out of your home and releases it into the environment. When this component stops working properly, it can make the air in your home feel almost as warm as the air outside.
Hot air in your home can increase the indoor humidity, making the air feel slightly warmer than it is. If your outdoor unit is still functioning properly, then simply removing the obstruction could correct the problem.
Leaks in Your Duct System
The ducts in your HVAC system move conditioned air through your home and remove unconditioned air. They require airtight insulation to prevent any loss of conditioned air during the cycle.
When leaks form in your ducts, the result can be a blast of warm air in your home when you turn on the AC. This problem requires a thorough inspection and repair of the insulation. A professional technician can perform this repair relatively quickly. After the repair is complete, this problem isn’t likely to return any time soon.
Leaks in Your Refrigerant
A refrigerant leak can prevent your AC from cooling the air before it circulates through your house. In this case, the environmental heat surrounding your HVAC system will warm the air in the ducts and raise the temperature in your home.
A trained technician can easily fix this problem after a quick inspection. Refrigerant leaks are one of the most common reasons for air conditioners to blow warm air. Oftentimes, the refrigerant is simply running low and requires a refill.
A Faulty Compressor
When a compressor breaks down, it fails to regulate the refrigerant in the system. Without a compressor to turn the refrigerant into a liquid, your HVAC system can’t cool the air before circulating it through the house.
In this situation, the air coming out of your vents will feel warm, raising the indoor temperature and causing your thermostat to activate the AC, beginning the cycle all over again. With convenient repairs from a technician, your system will be working again in no time.
Clogged Drainage
Biological growth in your AC unit can clog the condensate line, reducing your unit’s ability to remove heat and humidity from the air. A repair technician can quickly fix this problem by applying bleach to your condensate line to remove the algae or mold.
Clogged Evaporator Coils
Evaporator coils become dirty during your AC’s normal operation. When they get covered in grime, they lose their ability to cool the air in your HVAC system before the air circulates through your home. This problem is another easy one for a technician to handle.
At Zark Heating & Cooling, we offer AC and heating repair services for folks in New Lenox and the surrounding areas. Our services include maintenance, installations, and replacements for all types of air conditioners and heaters. We also offer indoor air quality service. Call us today to learn more about our affordable services.
