Why is My Air Conditioner Not Cooling?

We’ve all been there. Sweating through a sleepless night...or slogging through the heat of a sweltering July afternoon. It’s no fun when your air conditioner is not cooling, but it can happen. And when it does, it’s not going to be in the dead of winter. It’ll be the hottest day of the summer, and no matter how many times you turn down the thermostat you still find the AC not blowing air that is cold enough. That’s why it’s a good idea to consider annual air conditioner repair for preventative maintenance.

Air conditioning systems are more than just the condenser unit (the AC unit or heat pump) sitting outside your home. Typical split-system air conditioners have a lot of moving parts, including an indoor air handler unit (furnace or fan coil), an evaporator coil, air filter, thermostat and copper tubing (refrigerant lines) that connect the indoor and outdoor units. So there are a number of answers to the question “Why is my air conditioner not cooling the house?” But fear not. Just because your system isn’t cooling, doesn’t automatically mean expensive AC repairs or replacing the entire system.

Most homeowners can do some basic troubleshooting and may be able to resolve the issue. However, there are also times that you’ll need to make the call to your local Carrier® dealer for professional air conditioner service.

Why Is the Ac Not Blowing Cold Air?
From very simple issues like a thermostat set incorrectly or a dirty filter...to a more complex situation that requires replacing components...there are a wide variety of reasons why you may find your air conditioner running, but not lowering the temperature in the house. We’ll outline some items you should check before calling a professional here. For a little more detail, visit our troubleshoot an air conditioner page.

Thermostat Is Set Incorrectly
When you notice your home getting a little hotter than normal, first check the thermostat settings. Be sure it is set to cool. If the thermostat is set to cool, check the temperature setting to be sure someone hasn’t changed it. If it is off, set to heat, or set for constant fan (sometimes simply labeled “on”), switch it back to cooling operation. After the system kicks on, wait a few minutes, then check for cold air blowing from the registers. If it’s cold, problem solved! If not, move on to the next troubleshooting tip – checking the air filter.

Dirty Air Filter
Your AC system may include an air filter located in or around the indoor air handler unit. The filter catches dirt, dust and other airborne particles as they enter the air handler unit. It keeps the components inside the system cleaner and operating more efficiently and can help keep the air in your home cleaner as well. A dirty air filter can block airflow and reduce cooling to your home. In more extreme cases it can cause the system to shut down completely.

If your thermostat checks out and you still don’t have cool air, locate your system’s air filter, turn the system off, remove the filter and inspect. If, after you are satisfied that you have a clean air filter and your central air conditioner does not cool your home, you’ll have to dig a little deeper to locate the problem.

Condenser Unit Is Blocked
As previously described, your central air conditioning system likely includes an outdoor condenser unit. The exterior of the condenser unit features a large outdoor coil, which wraps most of the way around the outside of the unit. The coil includes a series of thin metal “fins” which are spaced very tightly together. If your air conditioner is running, but not lowering temperatures inside, one issue could be a blocked or clogged condenser coil. When operating correctly, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit through the condenser coil to pull heat energy out of your home.

Dirt, grass and other airborne debris can accumulate between the fins, clogging the coil. A dirty coil can lead to reduced energy efficiency, lack of cool air from the registers, or in extreme cases, complete system shutdown or damage to the compressor from overuse. You can attempt to clean the coil by clearing away debris, carefully vacuuming the coil with a brush attachment or rinsing gently with a hose. If your system still isn’t cooling, it’s probably time to call a pro.

Damaged Heat Pump
In some cases, your outdoor unit might be a heat pump. A heat pump looks just like an AC unit, with some different components inside that allow it to both cool and heat your home. In cooling operation, it operates just like an air conditioner system’s condenser unit and is subject to the same issues – dirty, clogged coil, frozen coil, refrigerant leaks, compressor malfunctions, etc.

If your heat pump system isn’t cooling, check thermostat settings, the air filter, and the condenser unit for previously described issues. If everything checks out and you’re still sweating inside, call your local HVAC dealer.

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