It’s one thing when your air conditioner breaks down and quits running — you know it’s time to call in the professionals.
It’s a different (and frustrating) situation when the system is running but isn’t cooling down the house.
Do you call one of the HVAC professionals, or do you tinker around with the thermostat?
For a total system failure, it’s best to call an HVAC technician as soon as possible. However, if the issue is a matter of the air conditioner not cooling, check for these potential causes before making a service call.
The Kids Blocked the Vents
Even if you don’t have kids, you may have a few blocked vents in your home. Take a minute and make sure you’re not obstructing airflow from both the supply and return vents.
Most supply vents have a damper. That’s the movable part that lets you adjust airflow. Sometimes the kids play with dampers and they end up in a closed position.
You Forgot to Change the Air Filter
Of course, you wouldn’t forget to change a dirty air filter, would you? Relax, it happens.
A dirty air filter is a common cause of the air conditioner not cooling. Check your filter and if you can’t see light passing through it, it’s past its prime.
For future filter changes, check what the manufacturer recommends. Some suggest a monthly change, others say every three months.
Someone Bumped the Thermostat
If you live in a new home or have an adjustable thermostat, it’s unlikely someone walked by and bumped the thermostat. However, you or another helpful family member may have switched the thermostat from COOL to OFF.
It’s also possible someone switched from AUTO to ON or FAN. The FAN setting means the system continues pushing air through the system — but not cooling. Check your thermostat settings and adjust if necessary.
Blocked vents, dirty air filters, and wacky thermostat settings are your easiest fixes. Next, we’ll look at two reasons that may require help from an HVAC technician.
You May Have a Refrigerant Leak
Another common cause of poor AC performance is a refrigerant leak. The refrigerant cools the air from your home by moving warm air from the system to the outside.
Suspect a refrigerant leak when you notice low airflow, warm air blowing from the registers, or when your home doesn’t cool down as quickly as usual.
Unless you’re an experienced HVAC specialist, you should avoid exposure to the refrigerant. Call one of the reliable HVAC companies in Maryland and let a professional come in and troubleshoot.
Need Help with an Air Conditioner Not Cooling?
If you’ve done everything you know to troubleshoot your non-working AC, don’t spend the rest of the summer broiling.
You may have other issues such as a bad capacitator, contactor, or compressor. It’s also possible you have an aging system and you need a replacement.
If you live in the Baltimore area and need help with an air conditioner not cooling, we can help. Contact us today and schedule an AC repair service call.