Why is my A/C blowing hot?

Southern Indiana air quality isn’t the best these days. So it’s important to have an air purification system in your home to keep your air clean. There are tons of particles floating around in your house that need to be removed. Even though you can’t see them, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. If these particles go without removal for too long, you and your family could suffer allergies or get sick.

You are sitting in your house on a hot summer day and a drop of sweat rolls down your forehead. Suddenly you realize just how hot it is in your house and you rush to check the thermostat.  Confused, you look again.  It says 85F, why is it so hot in here?  You check the vents and stunned, you realize they are blowing… hot air.

It happens, and when it does don’t panic.  Almost every case of an A/C blowing hot air falls into four categories that are fairly fixable.


 

1. The Heat Is On
Check your thermostat.  It may seem obvious, but the switch on your thermostat could be set to “heat” instead of “cool.”  If this is the case, just switch it over to “cool” and don’t be embarrassed, it happens to all of us.


 

2. Outside A/C Unit: Compressor and Condenser
Check your outside unit.  The outside power switch needs to be turned on for the compressor to be working properly.  Without the compressor, the system will usually just circulate the inside air, but it won’t have the ability to cool the air running through the system.

If this isn’t the case, check around the unit.  If it’s blocked by debris or if it’s dirty, the condenser won’t function well.  Make sure cleaning and checking your outdoor unit is part of a regular routine, not just when something is wrong.


 

3. Refrigerant
Refrigerant charge is a large element in cooling for a working A/C unit.  Without it, the system can’t cool the air.  Thus, low refrigerant charges lead to the vents blowing hot air.  Often the cause of low refrigerant is a leak somewhere inside the unit and is often accompanied by frost on the condenser coils.

If you think this is what is wrong, then call Brackett Heating & Air Conditioning.  Leaks and problems within the system need to be handled by a professional.


 

4. Clogged or Dirty Air Filter
If your air filter is dirty or clogged, it won’t function at maximum capacity, preventing the system from being able to cool efficiently.  Make sure cleaning your air filter is part of a regular routine.  Keeping a clean filter means making your unit more energy efficient and running smoothly, saving you money in bills and repair costs