This summer, you should be monitoring your air conditioner’s performance, making sure that it’s achieving temperature set points in a reasonable time. There are a number of common AC malfunctions, and one of the typical ones a homeowner is likely to encounter is the AC blowing out hot air.
AC Blowing Out Hot Air? Here’s What to Do.
- Check the thermostat. Before you make a call to your AC service company, you can do some checking to determine why the AC is blowing out hot air. Check the thermostat. Is the temperature set right? (Is it set to heat instead of cool?) If you have a programmable thermostat, is it set to run at a higher setting during certain periods of the day, when the household is less active or away? (It should be.) Also, check the circuit breaker to ensure everything is on as it should be.
- Check the evaporator coils and air filter. A dirty air filter can contribute to a failure to cool your home. The dirty filter contributes to dirt on the evaporator coils and also impedes airflow. Combine the two issues and you can have frozen evaporator coils on your hand. When the evaporator coils freeze up, the AC cannot remove moisture from the home properly, nor can the unit cool properly. If your evaporator coils freeze, turn the unit off and let the coils thaw. Change the air filter. When you turn the unit on again, the air should be cool.
- Check the outdoor condenser coils. Dirt or debris on the outdoor condenser coils may result in the AC blowing out hot air. Setting large objects near the condenser may also cause the coils to freeze up and not be able to properly exhaust hot air from the house. Remove all objects near the condenser. Trim back vegetation to within 2 feet of the unit. Have your HVAC tech look at the coils to make sure they are clean and in good working order.
- Check refrigerant level. This is a job for your licensed HVAC tech.
For more on the AC blowing out hot air, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area