3 Things To Check When Your Air Conditioner Is Blowing Warm Air

When you flip on your air conditioner and the air coming through your vents is warm or only room temperature, it can be difficult to narrow down the cause of the problem. Fortunately, many potential fixes for this problem are inexpensive and easy to attempt. HVAC repair services can be delayed during the hot summer months, so here are three things to check first to see if it's an easy fix.

1. The Circuit Breaker

The system that pushes air through your ducts and the system that cools air run separately from one another, which is why you can get air coming through your vents even if your outside air conditioning unit isn't working properly. One common cause is that the circuit the outdoor unit is on has tripped, meaning it isn't actually running.

To try to fix this, go to your circuit panel and make sure nothing has tripped. If it has, you can fix it easily from the panel. Keep an eye on that circuit in the coming weeks; if it seems to trip frequently, you will need to call an electrician to examine the reason.

2. The Fuses

Fuses can blow or simply wear out from long periods of use and are sometimes overlooked during maintenance like refilling coolant and cleaning the outdoor unit. If you hear a hum from your outdoor unit, but the fan blades aren't spinning, this means that your outdoor unit is getting power, but not enough to actually get the blades spinning. In this case, even if your motor is in perfect shape, your system won't work.

One quick, inexpensive fix for this problem is often to simply replace the fuses. These can be found at most hardware stores, and you can take in your old fuses to help find a replacement. Before removing the old fuses, take care to cut the power to that circuit and shut your AC off so that there is no risk of electrocution.

3. The Coils and Filter

Even if your outside unit's parts are working properly, if it isn't getting enough air flow, it can't output enough cool air to actually cool your house. There are two primary places you can check for problems that might restrict air flow.

The first is your air filter inside your house. If it's been a few months since you last replaced it, it can collect plenty of dust that will prevent as much air from being taken in, which means your air conditioner has less to work with. A dirty filter will be immediately recognizable and should be replaced immediately.

Next, check your outdoor unit's condenser coils. If there's a buildup of dust and debris, or even an overgrowth of plants, this can prevent air from being sucked in and can lead to parts wearing out more quickly. Simply take a garden hose and, using light water pressure, clean off the unit to make sure all the "fins" and fan blades are free of debris.

For more information, contact your local air conditioning services.


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