Learn Why Your Air Conditioner Is Blowing Hot Air

With Arkansas’ hot season upon us, if your A/C isn’t delivering cool air to the rooms in your home, you’ve got a problem. If the air conditioner is blowing hot air or neutral air, it could be a result of several issues. Try troubleshooting the problem first, and if that doesn’t bring on the cool air, call your trusted A/C technician.

Possible Reasons Your A/C Isn’t Cooling

• First check the simplest potential issue — the thermostat setting. If the thermostat inadvertently got switched from “cool” to “heat,” that would explain why the air conditioner is blowing hot air. Similarly, if the thermostat’s fan setting is adjusted to “fan only” or “on” instead of “auto,” the fan will operate continuously whether the A/C is operating or not. The air coming out of the registers will be room temperature.
• Another reason for the A/C to fail in its mission to cool your home is a lack of airflow. This could occur inside the house if objects such as furniture, rugs or boxes are covering cooling vents and registers. Or it could occur outside if yard debris, such as dead leaves, brush and grass clippings, is blocking airflow into the condenser/compressor unit.
• A dirty air filter is another explanation for an air conditioner that’s not delivering cool air. If the filter has been allowed to get clogged with dirt and dust, the air conditioner will have to work harder to circulate air through the system and around your home. It will take longer to cool your home, and some rooms may not get cool at all.
• If the A/C’s heat exchange coils are dirty — the evaporator coil inside and the condensing coil outside — that will restrict the vital process by which refrigerant absorbs heat energy in your home and removes it, producing cool air. While some homeowners may be able to clean the coils, this job is best left to professionals.

If your air conditioner is blowing hot air, or just not delivering air that’s cool enough to make you comfortable, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We proudly serve Northwest Arkansas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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