Why Is Your AC Blowing Warm Air?

The air flowing from your AC vents should be cool and refreshing when it's hot outside. Unfortunately, if the air is warmer than you expect, there's likely an underlying issue. 

While you may need to call an HVAC expert for an air conditioning repair, there are things you can do yourself to be sure of a problem. The following steps should help you understand why your unit gives off warm air and the solutions to this problem. 

1. Ensure the Outdoor Unit Has Power

An AC is a high-powered system that needs a lot of power to operate. Generally, AC units constitute more than 12% of the average home energy consumption. Therefore, a momentary power surge can cause your outdoor unit to trip the circuit breaker. 

If your AC system only blasts warm air, you can start by checking for a tripped switch in the circuit breaker panel. But if you have two units serving your home, make sure you turn both of them on. Some systems require both units to be running for your home to cool appropriately. 

Often, if the air conditioner was recently serviced, the technician most likely switched off the outdoor condenser at some point when serving it. But unfortunately, your service technician can forget to switch on the condenser after service. Therefore, check the box on the wall outside next to your air conditioner to ensure it is getting power.

2. Check Thermostat Setting

If you don't live alone, someone in your household may readjust the thermostat setting for the AC to circulate warm air. This thermostat setting change might be the reason your AC is blasting warm air. First, however, you need to check the setting to be sure.

If the thermostat is set to the "ON" position, the fan will constantly circulate warm air throughout your home while the outdoor condenser is not cooling. Therefore, you need to set it to "Auto" or "Cool" for the AC unit to humidify and cool your home when the fan is running.

3. Ensure Enough Ventilation Around Condensing Unit

The condenser unit of your air conditioner releases heat to your home. As a result, it must have adequate ventilation on all sides and at the top to remain efficient at doing its job. Make sure there's a lot of space around the condenser and a few feet of clearance at the top.

What to Do in Case Troubleshooting Fails

As mentioned earlier, the cooling problem is likely to emanate from these issues:

• Failed condenser
• An AC refrigerant leak
• A faulty condenser fan

If the guidelines described above do not fix your unit's problem, you'll have to seek help from reliable AC experts in your area. Your repair expert will provide you with more information about what might be going on and solutions to mitigate this problem. Learn more by contacting residential HVAC services.