What to do when AC Blowing Warm Air
Troubleshooting AC | AC Blowing Warm Air
Air conditioning has become such an essential part of our life that it is hard to endure the sweltering summer heat when they fail. Often, the cause is simple, and just as simply fixed. Let’s look at some common causes of an ac blowing warm air that you can correct on your own.
- Check the thermostat. You burned the eggs this morning, and not only turned on the stove vent fan, but switched the fan to “on” enabling the HVAC system fan to clear out the smoke. When the fan runs and the air conditioning compressor is not, the air being blown out will not be cooled. However, this won’t prevent the compressor from starting, and your home shouldn’t be hot. Go to the next step.
- On the thermostat, ensure it is set to “cool”, and not “off” or “heat” either of which will prevent the compressor from running, and cooling the home.
- Next, check the temperature the thermostat is set on. If it is set to cut on at 78 degrees, and it is 77 degrees or less in the home, the compressor will not start. But if the fan is in the “on” position, the fan will run blowing room temperature air. Lower the temperature below the displayed indoor temperature. If the system doesn’t cut on and cool, and the ac is blowing warm air, go to the next step.
- Check the AC breaker in your homes electrical service panel. If it is in the “off” position, push it back to on. The breaker should be labeled on the door list. Check for cooling. If none, and the ac is blowing warm air, check the outside condenser unit to see if the fan is running.
- Most air conditioners have a breaker in the system. The breaker for the outside condenser unit should be mounted in a service box near the condenser unit, (most, but not all have the exterior breaker). Check the breaker within this box and ensure it is on. If it was not, once you flip it to on, the outside portion should run. Check inside the home for cooling.
- If you still have no cooling and have a split system, check the breaker on the inside portion of the system (the air handler). It may look like a light switch toggle. Turn it to “on”. If your ac is blowing warm air after this, you will need to call your HVAC technician for air conditioning service.
- Check the filter. While a clogged filter may not be the immediate cause of the lack of cooling, it can lead to overheating of the system and cause a breaker to be thrown. It can also cause dirty coils which can lead to a lack of cooling.
An annual inspection of your air conditioning is recommended. The advantages of detecting problems early before they become major problems can’t be stressed enough. A service call and a little oil are less costly than the loss of a major component. An annual “tune-up” may not only identify problems before they leave you sweltering in the heat with the ac blowing warm air, it will also ensure the system is operating at peak performance for the most effective and efficient cooling possible.
Buy Energy Star approved HVAC equipment. Selecting an HVAC system that is Energy Star rated not only assures you of a more energy efficient system and lower utility bills, but ensures you have purchased a more reliable system with less malfunctions and breakdowns.
Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning take pride in providing service you can depend upon. We want your repeat business, and use our expertise to provide professional service to each and every job. We know customer satisfaction is the key to success, and we have been a member of the BBB since 1984 with an A+ rating. Give us a call when your AC is blowing warm air or for other heating and air conditioning problems. Thanks for visiting Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning.
