Summer weather seems to get hotter yearly in Warren, with temperatures peaking just under 90° F.
When you’re dealing with these kinds of hot temperatures, your AC unit needs to work perfectly. A functioning air conditioner is essential for your comfort in your home and your indoor air quality. If your unit isn’t cooling your house, you need to get to the bottom of it as soon as you can.
Today, we’ll help you figure this out by giving seven reasons why your AC is not cooling your house. Once you know why it’s not cooling, you can either fix it yourself or look for local AC companies that can.
Keep reading and ensure you’re ready to shelter from the hot summer weather in 2024.
1. Incorrect Thermostat Settings
Let’s start with the easiest possible fix. If your AC unit isn’t pumping out cool air, you should first check the thermostat settings. Not all thermostats activate the HVAC unit simply by turning them on — you need to set the right temperature.
Set the temperature to a very cool setting to ensure your thermostat appropriately communicates with your AC unit. Your unit should kick in shortly; if it doesn’t, you may need to replace the thermostat.
Most thermostats require you to set a temperature, and then the unit will turn on and cool your home to that temperature before turning off. Getting a smart thermostat can solve many of these kinds of problems, as it allows you to set different temperatures for different rooms and particular times of day.
2. Air Filter Problems
Another simple DIY fix for AC problems is to replace your air filter. All HVAC systems use air filters to remove contaminants and allergens, improving indoor air quality. Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, so having good indoor air quality can prevent allergies and illnesses.
If you don’t change your filter regularly — every 90 days is recommended — you’ll have AC issues and health concerns. When your AC filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, your unit has to work harder to cool the home.
It’ll struggle to cool your home effectively. Ultimately, it can cause significant damage when your unit has to force air through a dirty filter for too long. If you’d like to avoid costly repairs, it’s in your best interest to change the filter — you’ll notice an immediate difference in your AC’s ability to cool the home.
3. Dirty Condenser
The condenser is the part of your AC unit that is located outside the home. Since it’s outside, it’s subject to a lot more wear and tear than other aspects of your HVAC system. Dirt and debris can get on and in the condenser unit, starting to affect your system’s performance.
Like air filter problems, when the condenser becomes clogged with debris, it has to work harder to pull and cool the air. Cleaning the condenser is another thing you can do on your own.
Use soap and water to gently wipe away the dirt or a hose placed on a gentle setting. In the future, consider covering the condenser unit during the winter months to prevent these kinds of issues.
4. Air Conditioner Leaking or AC Pan Leaking
Leaking can be a major issue for an AC system’s ability to cool your home. If you’ve got a refrigerant leak, you may hear a hissing noise near your AC unit, but it’ll also cause the unit to take a long time to cool your home. Never try to fix a refrigerant leak on your own, as it requires professional expertise.
Another type of leak is an AC pan leak, which signals a clogged condensate drain line. The interior AC unit has an evaporator coil that cools warm air, creating condensation. This condensation should go into your AC pan and through your condensate drain line.
You can attempt to fix this with a wet vac, but if you’re unsure what to do, it’s best to type “AC repair near me” into Google and talk to an HVAC expert.
5. Mechanical Issues
AC units are full of moving parts that go through wear and tear when you turn your AC on. If you can’t figure out why your AC isn’t cooling your home, it’s probably something to do with your motor or compressor.
Again, you should never try to open up your AC unit without experience. An AC repair service has the expertise and tools to diagnose and fix all mechanical issues in your unit.
6. Duct Leak
Ducts are an essential part of your HVAC system. Your unit pumps air into the ducts, which distribute the air throughout the house. If you have a duct leak, the cool air will escape the ducts before it can reach your rooms.
It may seem that your AC unit isn’t working properly, and you’re losing money through your ducts. This issue can be difficult to diagnose, so you’ll need a professional duct inspection to truly get to the bottom of things.
7. Old Unit
The average lifespan of an air conditioner is 15 to 20 years. If you’re having issues cooling your home and you’re unsure of how old your AC unit is, it might need replacing.
This isn’t what homeowners want to hear. Replacing an AC unit isn’t cheap, but it’s an expense that leads to greater comfort in your home and far better energy efficiency.
You can consider it a long-term money-saver. Old AC units tend to leave homeowners with higher energy bills. Over several years, you’ll break even on the cost of an AC installation through energy savings.
If Your AC Is Not Cooling Your House, Don’t Wait
If your AC is not cooling your house, it could be one or more of these issues. The longer you wait to have your unit inspected and repaired, the more severe and costly the problem may become. Your best course of action is to get an AC repair-free estimate from a good HVAC company.
Warren is home to many AC companies, but when you type “heating and cooling near me” into Google, Phillips Heating and Air Conditioning will be at the top of the list. Since 1934, we’ve been the premier HVAC service in Newton Falls and the surrounding area, offering trustworthy and affordable services.
To have your malfunctioning AC unit repaired by a dedicated professional, contact us today.
