9 Reasons Your AC Is Blowing Warm Air

What’s worse than an air conditioner that isn’t blowing any air during the Florida summer? An air conditioner that’s blowing warm air.

Is your air conditioner blowing warm or hot air? Learn how to troubleshoot the common air conditioning issues that can cause this problem.

9 Reasons Your AC Is Blowing Warm Air

1. Incorrect Thermostat Settings

The first thing to check is that you, or your kids, didn’t accidentally set the thermostat to the “HEAT” setting.

Double check that you set your thermostat to your desired temperature. If you have a programmable thermostat, the schedule may have changed which will override your settings after a cycle completes. You may need to update this schedule if it changed or isn’t what you want.

Make sure you have your thermostat set to the “AUTO” and not “ON” fan setting. When it’s set to “AUTO,” your fan will only turn on when the air is being cooled. If the fan is set to “ON,” your fan will circulate air continuously, even when the air is not being cooled.

2. No Power to Outdoor AC Unit

Your AC condenser, the outside AC unit, is responsible for cooling the air. So, if your outside AC unit isn’t operating the way it should, your indoor fan will circulate the hot air from inside your air ducts and blow warm air.

Check your circuit breaker for a tripped breaker and reset it if that’s your problem. If the breaker continues to trip, call an electrician. This could be a more serious problem and cause damage to the unit.

Check that shutoff switch is in the “ON” position. Most air conditioners have an emergency shutoff switch located in a box next to your outside AC unit. If someone recently worked on your AC, they may have accidentally left it in the “OFF” position.

3. Clogged Air Filter

A dirty, clogged air filter can impede airflow and, in severe cases, even block air from entering your AC system. When this happens, the evaporator coils can’t remove heat and the fan blows the hot air back into your house.

Check and replace your air filters regularly to prevent this problem.

4. Outside AC Unit Clogged

Excess debris near your outside AC unit can clog and interfere with your system’s moving parts, causing airflow issues.

Poor or restricted airflow can hinder the release of hot air outside your home, meaning your AC system can’t properly remove the heat from inside your home.

This hot air has nowhere else to go, so it cycles back into your air ducts.

You can fix this yourself by:

– Clearing any debris around and on the unit that could be causing a blockage
– Trimming nearby bushes and plants
– Cutting tall grass
– Removing weeds

5. Bad AC Compressor

A bad or failing compressor will disrupt your AC system’s entire cooling process.

AC compressors can fail for a variety of reasons including electrical failure or overheating. Unfortunately, compressor problems are the most commonly misdiagnosed issues in an AC system.

If you believe this may be your problem, it’s best to get the second opinion of an experienced HVAC technician.

6. Evaporator Coil Issues

If you don’t regularly replace your air filter and don’t maintain the area around your outside AC unit, then chances are your evaporator coils are dirty and coated in grime. This dirt creates a layer of insulation between the air and your coils, making it harder for the coils to cool the air to the desired temperature.

Check and see if your evaporator coils are frozen. If this is your problem, turn off your air conditioner and let the ice thaw.

Air conditioners are designed to cycle on and off. If your air conditioner is running non-stop trying to keep up with cooling demands, it can cause issues like this.

If your air conditioner freezes over again, your problem is most likely a refrigerant leak.

7. Low Refrigerant

The refrigerant in your AC system isn’t just used up, it works on a closed loop. Low refrigerant means there’s a leak in the refrigerant line or your system was undercharged with freon when it was installed.

You should never try to fix this issue by recharging your system with freon and don’t trust an HVAC technician that suggests this without first inspecting your system for a leak.

Signs of a refrigerant leak include hissing or gurgling noises or the presence of ice on refrigerant line.

8. Return Air Duct Issues

Check around your house for any closed or blocked return air vents. When you close air vents in your home, it blocks airflow to the room, but can also cause an imbalance in your entire duct system.

Look inside your return air vents and check for any visibly broken or disconnected ductwork. These problems can also cause airflow issues within your home’s ductwork.

9. Air Duct Leaks

Your home’s ductwork may have been damaged by a recent construction project or by birds or rodents that found their way into your ductwork.

Leaks in your ductwork can cause the cool air to seep out while pulling in hot air from within your attic. If you can access your ductwork, check for any holes, cracks, dents, twisted or disconnected ducts, or any other forms of damage.

Contact Blair’s Air for AC Repair in the Tampa Bay Area

When you’d rather leave air conditioning repairs to the professionals, call Blair’s Air.

We provide quick, efficient repairs that restore the comfort of your home. If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, don’t wait to call us.

Call 727-592-8479 to schedule service.