It can be very frustrating when your AC is unable to blow cool air. You will not only have to bear the brunt of summer but get the air conditioner fixed. Even if you turn down the thermostat, the AC will not be able to blow cool air.
However, there can be many factors that can make the air conditioner not function. An AC has many moving parts and even a single part can make the AC misbehave. Here are some of the reasons for an AC not cooling.
- The air filter is clogged.
- Dirty evaporator coil.
- Bad fan motor.
- Faulty compressor.
- Bad condenser coil.
- Malfunctioning contractor.
- Incorrect thermostat setting.
- Damaged heat pump.
- Refrigerant leak.
- The air conditioner has low air.
How Does An Air Conditioner Function?
The main function of an air conditioner is to gather the inner heat and transfer it to the outside of your home. It can be perfect during summer as it lets you stay cool. How an air conditioner works is due to refrigeration. It is through this refrigeration that it can transform liquid to vapor and thereby expelling heat energy. The air conditioner unit utilizes refrigerant to trap heat from the inside and release it outdoors.
It draws the warm indoor air into the return vent. It then it is then released from the evaporator coil. The refrigerant cycle absorbs the heat through the evaporator coil. The process makes the liquid turn into gas which is blown into the house. The refrigerant also travels to the compressor which increases the temperature of the refrigerant.
Finally, the refrigerant passes through the condenser coil for releasing heat outdoors. When the refrigerator cools down it will again change into liquid from the gas.
How To Solve AC Not Cooling Issue?
Here are some of the common reasons why your AC might not be cooling along with the solution to fix the issues.
1. Check Air Filter
One of the main reasons for an air conditioner not working is a dirty air filter which is clogged with dirt and dust. This will lead to many problems including the AC not cooling. A dirty air filter can also interfere with the thermostat’s functioning and can block the passage of cool and warm air. Furthermore, it can also freeze the evaporator coil which will block the passage of cool air. The ideal solution for this will be to clean or replace the air filter.
2. Check Thermostat Settings
In an AC unit, a thermostat acts as a sensor for sensing the room temperature. It will further give a hint to the compressor to begin or stop accordingly. However, a defective thermostat will not make the air conditioner blow cool air. If the AC is not cooling, you will have to check the functioning of the thermostat. A defective thermostat can blow out lukewarm air. To prevent this, you will have to make sure that the thermostat settings is in auto mode.
3. Check Outside Unit
Another common reason is due to dirty outside unit. The AC will not cool when the outside unit is unclean. The condenser which is the outside unit condenses cool air which is transformed from the evaporator. If the condenser is clogged there will be no proper cooling by the AC system. Dirt and debris can block heat transfer. A simple solution for this will be to clean the condenser and remove dirt around it. You must regularly maintain the condenser for smooth functioning of the AC.
4. Motor Issue
Do note that when the motor fan is faulty or broken, it will not be able to dissipate heat. This will make the AC unit’s cooling ability deteriorate. If there is such an issue, you need to get a professional and fix the problem.
5. Check Refrigerant Level
An air conditioner uses refrigerant to work. If there is a low refrigerant level, it will not be able to absorb the surrounding heat from the air. Being an important fluid, the insufficient refrigerant will make the air conditioner not blow cool air. Sometimes a refrigerant is leaking which will affect the overall performance. Some of the signs of low refrigerant levels are bubbling or hissing noises or build-up of ice on the outside. If you see such signs, you will have to call a professional.
6. Compressor Issue
It is the compressor that is responsible for managing the refrigerant flow between the evaporator and condenser. A condenser is responsible for cooling the room. When there is a bad condenser, there will not be enough air as it will be unable to compress the refrigerant. If it is damaged, you will have to get it replaced by hiring a professional
Conclusion
Maintenance of your air conditioning unit is very important. You must clean it regularly and get it serviced by an expert. If the air conditioner is not cooling, it can be due to many reasons. Many of these can be fixed by cleaning or changing the settings. However, you will have to get professional help if the air conditioner is not blowing cool air.
