My AC is on, so why is it still hot in my house? Signs that a bad AC motor is the culprit.

A bad AC motor is the main character of many a Floridian homeowner’s recurring nightmare: it’s the middle of June, temperatures well into the 90s, and the air coming from your vents is tepid, at best (downright hot at worst). No one wants to deal with that situation, but it’s an unwelcome reality for most people at one point or another, and the most important thing you can do is know how to fix it right away. Today, we’re going over some of the biggest early signs of a bad motor so that you can avoid being left in the heat, as well as the best service team to call when you are.

Here’s the thing: for the most part, your home’s air won’t always be at exactly the temperature your thermostat states – especially during summer in Florida. It’s not uncommon – especially for older machines – for the actual temperature in your home to remain a few degrees higher than the temperature you’ve designated on the thermostat. This is especially true if the temperature outside is, say, in the 90s and your thermostat is sitting at 70 degrees. Slightly warmer air blowing out of your vents is normal – significantly warmer, or downright hot, air is not.

First and foremost, it’s important to know that hot air coming from your indoor vents doesn’t always point to a bad motor. If your air conditioner is unable to regulate the temperature of the air it blows into your house, the culprit could be any number of factors. This includes a broken motor in addition to a refrigerant leak (wherein the liquid that’s used to cool your home’s air leaks out of the machine), a leak in your house’s interior ducts, or a bad compressor (which allows the refrigerant to cool the air going into your home in the first place). Regardless of the underlying cause, one thing is for sure: if your vents are blowing out hot air, it’s time to call a trusted professional.

The best-case scenario is catching the early signs of wear on your air conditioner’s motor so that you can address them before it devolves into a bigger – and much more inconvenient – issue. One of the most common signs that your motor is in early stages of breakdown is a rattling or buzzing sound coming from either your unit or your vents. If you hear this, it could mean that some debris has gotten into the unit and is banging against your motor. Call in a professional to service the unit right away in order to avoid the damage becoming worse. Another potential sign of a bad AC motor – or a motor that will become bad shortly – is any issue in consistency with your fan. Whether it doesn’t blow when your AC is on, continues to blow when your AC is off, or turns on and off out of sync with your air conditioner, a troublesome fan is a sign that your motor could use a service visit.

If you suspect that there’s something wrong with your motor, the best thing you can do is be proactive. The Florida summer is probably the worst time to be caught with a broken air conditioner, and avoiding this situation starts with inspecting your air conditioner for any early signs of motor damage. If you’re already experiencing hot air coming out of your vents, the best thing you can do is call a professional you can trust to be thorough, effective, and to give you a good deal. They’ll get your air conditioner back into shape, and back up and running, in no time.

If you’re worried that you have a bad AC motor or simply want to make sure your air conditioner is in good condition, be sure to schedule a service visit with a professional you trust. Click here to get a free quote on your Blair’s service visit.