12 Reasons Your AC Is Not Cooling & How to Fix it

Is your air conditioner not cooling at all or not producing air that is cold enough to cool your home? Several AC issues can cause this problem. The solutions range from a quick and easy fix to requiring a professional HVAC technician, depending on the severity of the problem.

12 Reasons Your AC Is Not Cooling & How to Fix it

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your air conditioner isn’t cooling and then figure out how to solve the problem.

1. Bad or Broken Thermostat

Your thermostat controls your AC system, so if it isn’t functioning correctly, it can create problems.

If you’re seeing a blank thermostat screen, try replacing the batteries.

If your thermostat is powered on but not communicating with your AC system, you’ll want to first make that there’s power to the AC unit.

For more information, check out our blog: 5 Signs You Need to Replace Your Thermostat

2. Circuit Breaker Tripped

Check and see if your AC unit tripped the circuit breaker. Try resetting the breaker, but if it trips again, DO NOT turn it back on or you could risk damaging your AC system.

If the problem is electrical, you’ll need to call an electrician first.

3. Wrong Thermostat Settings

You’ll also want to make sure you set your thermostat on the proper settings.

Start off by checking that your thermostat didn’t accidentally switch to “HEAT” instead of “COOL.”

Next, you’ll want to make sure your fan is on the correct setting.

“ON” Setting: Setting your thermostat to “ON” will make your fan run continuously, circulating the air throughout your home and causing air to blow from your air vents even when your air conditioning system isn’t cooling the air.

This means the air coming from your air vents will be the same temperature as the air in your house and may feel warm.

“AUTO” Setting: Setting your thermostat to “AUTO” will cause your fan to only turn on during your air conditioning cycles. When the cycle finishes, your fan will turn off again.

4. Clogged Air Filter

A dirty, clogged air filter can cause multiple issues in your air conditioning system.

Your AC system needs to intake air to cycle properly. A clogged air filter will reduce airflow and decrease the efficiency of the system and make it difficult to cool the air properly.

5. Blocked AC Condenser (Outside AC Unit)

If your AC condenser the AC unit located outside) is blocked by leaves, bushes, trees, or other plants, it won’t be able to disperse as much heat to the surrounding area.

When the heat has nowhere to go, it will start to accumulate in the condenser unit, causing the condensing temperature to rise and the system to run inefficiently.

6. Dirty Evaporator Coil

The process of cooling the air in your AC system occurs along the surface and fins of your evaporator coil.

If your evaporator coil is covered by a layer of dirt or grime, you’ll experience a decrease in cooling efficiency.

The dirt creates a layer of insulation between the air and the coils, making it harder for the coils to cool the air to the desired temperature. As a result, your AC will blow air that is warmer than it should be.

7. Bad or Failing AC Capacitor

If your outdoor fan is running, but the compressor is not, the problem may be with your AC capacitor.

AC capacitors work like batteries. They’re used to power the motor in the compressor and blower fan. So if there’s a problem with your capacitor, the compressor won’t be able to function properly.

Hear a clicking sound coming from your AC unit? It’s a common sign your AC capacitor is beginning to fail. When your capacitor fails, the motor attached to it will hum instead of turn on. If this happens, turn off your AC system immediately as the motor could burn out and need to be replaced.

Replacing a capacitor on your own can be dangerous, so it’s best to call an HVAC technician for this fix.

8. Broken Fan Motor

Fan motors experience a lot of wear and tear, especially if your AC system is not regularly maintained.

A sign that your fan motor is broken or failing is a buzzing noise coming from the fan.

Since the problem may be with the capacitor powering the motor and not the motor itself, it’s important to have a professional HVAC technician diagnose this issue.

9. Bad or Failing AC Compressor

Your AC compressor’s role is to compress the refrigerant, raising its temperature and transporting it to the outdoor coil. This process collects the heat from inside your home and releases it outside.

Compressor problems are the most commonly misdiagnosed issues in an AC system. Many other AC problems create symptoms that look like a bad AC compressor, and multiple things can cause compressor failure, making it tricky to diagnose accurately.

If you believe this is your problem, it’s best to get the second opinion of an experienced HVAC technician to make sure you diagnose the problem correctly.

10. Low Refrigerant

If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, also known as freon, your AC system will struggle to cool the air inside your home properly.

If you hear a hissing or bubbling noise when your AC is operating, you may have a refrigerant leak.

The refrigerant in your AC system may have been undercharged when it was installed or, more likely, there is a refrigerant leak.

If you have a refrigerant leak, a freon recharge will only be a temporary fix, not a solution.

Refrigerant is dangerous, so it’s best to have a trained technician diagnose the issue, fix any leaks, and recharge your system with the proper amount of refrigerant.

11. Undersized AC Unit

If your AC system is unable to reach and maintain the set temperature on hot days, especially if it’s running continuously, the culprit may be an undersized AC unit.

An air conditioner that continually runs, but doesn’t cool your home, will increase your energy bills dramatically and put more wear and tear on your overall system.

12. Air Duct Leaks

Air ducts distribute cool air throughout your home. Holes or other types of damage to your ductwork can cause air leaks that impede proper airflow to all rooms within your home.

If your problem is in the ductwork, you’ll typically experience hot and cold spots in your home.

It’s best to contact a professional to seal duct leaks as it’s easy to make things worse and cause even more damage if you don’t know what you’re doing.

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 isn’t cooling your home, don’t wait to call a professional.

Call 727-592-8479 to schedule service.