AC Blowing Hot Air? Common Reasons and How to Resolve Them in Warner Robins and Macon, GA
When the heat cranks up in Warner Robins and Macon GA, during summer, it's a real pain when your air conditioner doesn't give you the cool air you need. If your AC starts pushing out hot air instead of the chilly breeze you want, something's not right.
At Buzzell Plumbing, we know how uncomfortable and annoying this can be. Our HVAC team is ready to help you figure out what's wrong and fix it fast.
Thermostat Settings Check
Your air conditioner might blow hot air because of the wrong thermostat settings. Before looking into more complicated issues, ensure your thermostat is set up correctly. Check that it's on "cool" mode and that you've set the temperature lower than what the room feels now. Sometimes, thermostats can get switched to "heat" by mistake, which makes the AC push out warm air instead of cool air.
Also, check your thermostat to see if it's working right. Look for things like a blank screen or buttons that don't work. If you think the thermostat has a problem, try resetting it or putting in new batteries if it uses them. If that doesn't fix it, you should get a new thermostat. A broken thermostat can stop your AC from working.
Dirty Air Filter
One of the main reasons an air conditioner might blow hot air is a dirty or clogged air filter. Air filters have an essential job of trapping dust, pollen, and other particles in the air, making sure clean air moves through your home. But when these filters get too dirty or clogged up, they can block airflow. This makes your AC unit work harder and might cause it to overheat.
To prevent this problem, you must often change your air filters. Depending on the filter type and how much you use it, most HVAC pros say you should replace them every 1-3 months. If you skip this easy upkeep job, you might not get hot air from your vents but also put extra stress on your AC system, which could make it break down sooner.
Problems with the Outdoor Unit
Your AC system has two main parts: the indoor unit (a furnace or air handler) and the outdoor unit (the condenser). If something goes wrong with the outdoor unit, it can directly affect how well your AC cools your home.
Dirty Condenser Coil
The condenser coil, which sits in the outdoor unit, has a crucial impact on how the refrigerant releases heat. This coil can gather dust, junk, and even plants over time making it harder to get rid of heat well. A condenser coil that's too dirty or blocked can make your AC overheat and push hot air into your house.
Broken Condenser Fan
Another possible problem with the outdoor unit is a broken condenser fan. This fan pulls air over the condenser coil to help remove heat. If the fan doesn't work right or gets blocked, it can stop the condenser from releasing heat well, which means hot air might blow through your house.
To keep your AC working its best, clear out any junk or plants around the outdoor unit. Also, getting a pro to check it can catch and fix any issues with the condenser coil or fan before they turn into bigger headaches.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant is the core element of your AC system. It absorbs heat from inside your home and moves it outdoors. When your AC unit lacks enough refrigerant, it can't cool your home well. As a result, you might feel warm air coming from your vents.
Refrigerant Leaks
Leaks in the system's refrigerant lines or parts often cause low refrigerant levels. These leaks can happen for many reasons. Old age, normal wear, or damage to the lines or connections can all lead to leaks.
It's key to fixing refrigerant leaks. These leaks affect your AC's cooling power and can hurt the environment. Refrigerants are greenhouse gases that play a part in climate change. This makes it vital to handle them well and follow environmental rules.
Professional Refrigerant Handling
Trying to add refrigerant to your AC system or fix leaks without proper training and tools can be risky and may even be against the law. Most states and cities require HVAC techs to have certification and licenses to work with refrigerants. This ensures they have the know-how and skills to handle these substances.
At Buzzell Plumbing, our HVAC experts are trained and certified to tackle refrigerant problems. They can find and fix leaks and recharge your AC system. We care about the environment while ensuring your air conditioner works its best.
Broken Compressor
The compressor acts as the heart of your air conditioning system. It moves the refrigerant through all the parts of the system. When the compressor breaks down or doesn't work right, it can hurt your AC's ability to cool your home. You might notice hot air coming out of your vents.
Signs of Compressor Problems
You might see these signs if your compressor is failing:
- Loud, weird sounds are coming from the outdoor unit
- Turning on and off too often
- Not cooling as well as it should
- Higher power bills
If you see any of these problems, you need to get a professional HVAC tech to check your system right away. Ignoring a bad compressor can damage other parts and even mean replacing the whole system.
Fixing or Swapping Out the Compressor
Based on the severity of the problem and the age of your AC, our techs might recommend fixing or replacing the compressor. Fixing compressors can cost a lot, but if your AC isn't that old, it might save you money compared to getting a whole new system.
If your AC unit is getting old or has had several parts break down, getting a new one might save you more money and energy. Our team at Buzzell Plumbing will examine your system and tell you what's best so you can make a smart choice.
Electrical Issues
Problems with electricity can also cause your air conditioner to blow hot air. Your AC needs electrical parts to work right, such as motors, capacitors, and control boards.
Tripped Circuit Breakers
A tripped circuit breaker is a typical electrical problem that can cause your AC to blow hot air. When the breaker trips, it cuts off power to your air conditioning unit, stopping it from working. This can happen for many reasons, like an electrical overload, a short circuit, or a broken part in the system.
If you think you have a tripped circuit breaker, find your home's electrical panel and look for any switches in the "off" position. If you see one, try to reset it by flipping it back to the "on" position. If the breaker trips again immediately, it points to a bigger electrical problem that needs a professional to fix.
Broken Electrical Parts
Besides circuit breakers, other electrical parts in your AC system can break down or act up, making your air conditioner blow hot air. These parts might include:
- Capacitors: Capacitors start and run the compressor and fan motors. A broken capacitor can prevent these parts from working properly, leading to less cooling or a system shut down.
- Control boards: The control board serves as the "brain" of your AC system. It manages its different parts and jobs. When the control board breaks, your AC might act up or quit working.
- Wiring problems: Wires that are loose worn out, or broken can cut off power to your AC system. This can cause it to work and even be dangerous.
Fixing electrical problems in your AC can be tricky and risky if you're not a trained expert. Buzzell Plumbing has HVAC technicians who know what they're doing. They have the skills and tools to figure out and fix any electrical issues that might be messing with your AC.
Frozen Evaporator Coil
You might think it's odd, but a frozen evaporator coil can cause your AC to blow hot air. The evaporator coil absorbs heat from the air inside, letting the refrigerant cool down and move through the system.
Causes of a Frozen Evaporator Coil
A few things can lead to a frozen evaporator coil, such as:
- Dirty air filters: As we said before, dirty air filters can limit airflow, which causes the evaporator coil to freeze over time.
- Low refrigerant levels: Not enough refrigerant stops the evaporator coil from absorbing heat well, which leads to ice buildup.
- Blocked air vents: When furniture or other things block the air vents in your home, it can restrict airflow and cause the evaporator coil to freeze.
How to Fix a Frozen Evaporator Coil
If you think your evaporator coil has frozen, you must act fast to avoid more damage to your AC system. Here's what you can do:
- Switch off your AC: Running your system when the evaporator coil is frozen can damage the compressor and other parts.
- Let the coil defrost: Depending on how bad it is, the ice buildup might need several hours or up to a day to melt.
- Look at and swap out air filters: After the coil has melted, check your air filters and put in new ones if you need to.
- Remove anything blocking airflow: Make sure nothing's in the way of air vents and returns so air can move .
- Think about getting expert help: If the problem keeps happening or you think there might be a bigger issue, like refrigerant leaking out, it's a good idea to get in touch with a skilled HVAC technician to check it out and fix it.
Ductwork Issues
While the reasons mentioned above directly connect to your air conditioning system, problems with your home's ductwork can also lead to your AC blowing hot air.
Leaky Ducts
Holes in your ductwork allow cooled air to escape before it reaches the intended living spaces, causing hot air to blow from the vents. These holes can happen for many reasons, including bad installation, physical harm, or wear and tear over time.
Blocked or Damaged Ducts
In addition to leaks, clogged or broken ducts can stop cool air from moving well through your house. Things like trash, insulation, or even tiny critters can limit airflow, while busted or fallen ducts can create bottlenecks or let air escape.
Checking and Fixing Ductwork
Spotting and fixing ductwork problems can be tough since much of it is hidden in walls, ceilings, and crawl spaces. At Buzzell Plumbing, our HVAC pros know how to do full ductwork checks using special tools like cameras and air pressure tests.
Once we spot the problem, our crew can suggest and implement the right fixes. This might mean sealing gaps, removing blockages, or swapping out broken duct parts. Fixing duct issues can boost your AC's performance and help spread cool air in your home.
Wrong AC Unit Size
Your air conditioner might blow hot air for another reason: the unit's size doesn't match your home or living area.
Too-Big AC Units
A bigger AC unit is better, as it should cool your home faster. But units that are too big can cause problems and lead to issues like:
- Short cycling: An AC unit that's too big might cool your home too fast making it switch on and off a lot. This on-and-off pattern can stress the system and shorten how long it lasts.
- Poor moisture removal: Big units may not run long enough to take water out of the air well. This can make your home feel damp and uncomfortable.
- Warm air coming out: Because the unit turns on and off so often, it might need more time to cool the air before sending it into your rooms. This means you could feel warm air coming from your vents.
Undersized AC Units
Conversely, an AC unit that is too small will have difficulty cooling your house well. This means warm air will come from the vents as the system works extra hard to meet your cooling needs.
Right-Sized AC Units
You need an AC unit that fits your home or living space just right to get the best performance and save energy. When we install a new system, our HVAC experts at Buzzell Plumbing will do a full check. They look at things like the size of your space, how well it's insulated, the size of your windows, and how many people live there.
When we pick the right size for your AC unit, we ensure it runs well. This means it cools your home without wasting power or putting too much stress on the system.
Age and Wear of the AC System
Like any machine, AC units get old and worn out over time. Even if you take good care of your AC and keep it in shape, its parts will break down and need replacing at some point.
Signs of an Aging AC System
If your AC is over 10-15 years old, you might see these signs of aging:
- It doesn't cool as well as it used to
- It uses more power
- It breaks down or needs fixing a lot.
- It makes weird noises or smells.
Although fixing or swapping out parts might keep an old AC running longer, replacing the whole system would be cheaper and save more energy in the long run.
When your AC starts blowing warm air, you might feel frustrated and uncomfortable, especially during hot summers in Warner Robins and Macon, GA. But if you know the common reasons and take the right steps to fix the problem, you can make your home cool again and ensure your AC works well and doesn't break down.
We want to give our customers the best service and know-how at
Buzzell Plumbing. Our team of trained and certified HVAC experts can find and fix many AC problems, from easy repairs to big system changes and new installations.
