Why is My AC Blowing Hot Air?

It’s the first really hot day of summer in Hickory when the floor fans and the open windows just don’t cut it anymore. You head over to your thermostat and select “air conditioner” and wait for that refreshing icy air to start blowing out of your vents. When you check a few minutes later, you feel only hot air. Why?

Many reasons can cause an air conditioner to malfunction, resulting in warm or hot air blowing through your vents. Our Griffin Heating & Air Conditioning professionals want to help you diagnose those problems quickly and then get them fixed, so you can cool down your family and your home.

Start at the Thermostat

The thermostat controls when your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system turns on and off, depending on what temperatures you have designated. When your air conditioning system blows hot air, start by checking your thermostat.

Be sure it’s set correctly and not set to heat. You need to set your thermostat to cool, being sure you’re not only setting the fan function. If you are sure you have it set correctly, there may be an issue with how your thermostat is sending messages to your HVAC system or some other problem. Call us to come out and fix the issue for you.

Lack of Air Circulation

Air conditioners need plenty of air circulation to operate correctly. Start by checking your air filter and being sure it’s clean. Clean air filters can not only improve your air conditioner’s performance but can help save significant amounts of energy.

Then, head on outside and be sure your unit is not buried under leaves, grass, weeds or other yard debris. If there are things blocking the outside unit, take the time to clear them away. Once that’s taken care of, check the inside unit for any blockages or clogs that may be restricting airflow there.

Too Much Ice

Sometimes restricted airflow and dirty condenser coils can cause a buildup of ice on the outside portion of your air conditioning system. If too much ice builds up, it can cause your air conditioner to malfunction and blow only hot air.

If a great deal of ice exists, you may need to turn off your entire system and allow it to defrost. Once the ice melts, clean the condenser coils, and turn your system back on to see if it functions properly. If it doesn’t, call one of our professionals to help.

Low Refrigerant Levels

Your air conditioner needs a certain level of refrigerant at a particular pressure to operate efficiently. If you have a refrigerant leak or you notice your refrigerant levels are low, you’ll need to call a professional to come in and replenish the refrigerant.

This is a toxic, regulated chemical, so it’s important to rely on our experts to assist with this problem. Refrigerant leaks are damaging to the environment, so be sure to get that repaired as soon as possible.

Mechanical Problems

An air conditioner has many complex parts, and if any of them malfunction, it can cause your unit to blow hot air. If you cannot resolve your air conditioning problem with simple fixes, it may be time to call an HVAC professional to inspect your air conditioning system.

One of our trained technicians can check the condition of your blower, condenser, and evaporator as well as be sure your electrical connections are secure and working correctly. You’ll have the added benefit of having a professional give your air conditioning system a complete cleaning and tune-up, which should help you minimize repair bills over the long term.

Call Griffin Heating & Air Conditioning Today

When you can’t figure out why your air conditioner is blowing hot air, contact our trained professionals at Griffin Heating & Air Conditioning in Hickory, NC, for help. Call 704-873-1749 or request service online today.