Emergency services
When you turn on your air conditioning, several components work together to produce cool air. If you notice hot air blowing through your household vents, at least one of those parts isn’t working as designed. Get to know the top 12 reasons why your AC isn’t properly cooling your home.
1. Dirty Condenser
Your HVAC system consists of two connected sections, the indoor and outdoor units. The condenser is located in the outdoor unit. This unit also houses many intricate coils for heat transfer. Because of its outdoor location, however, the coils can become clogged or dirty.
For example, dust, leaves, and other natural debris might build up across the coils. As a result, the condenser overheats and fails to produce cool air as designed. Typically, regular maintenance visits from our staff at 865 HVAC can prevent this scenario.
2. Low or Leaking Refrigerant
The hoses connecting your indoor and outdoor units are home to a chemical liquid called refrigerant. An HVAC system with hot air might have a refrigerant leak. Because this liquid is the means of the system’s heat removal from the home and out to the exterior, a low refrigerant level prohibits the system from transferring heat. During a repair visit, our technicians will evaluate the lines for cracks or other issues. After diagnosing the problem, our professionals can repair the lines and fill the system with the proper refrigerant volume. During the next HVAC cycle, cool air should return.
3. Clogged Air Filter
The AC won’t properly cool the home with a clogged air filter. The filter in the indoor unit protects the HVAC components from dust and dander accumulation by trapping these particulates before they enter the system. Over time, the filter clogs up and restricts airflow. Depending on system usage, you should change the filter every two to three months. If you have furry pets or have other environmental issues, you can check it every six to eight weeks.
4. Improper Thermostat Setting
Improper cooling might originate from the thermostat’s settings. Most thermostats have heating, cooling, and fan capabilities regardless of the model. If the system only produces warm or hot air, the thermostat might be set to heating or fan only mode.
Also, a faulty thermostat is a possibility. Old wiring, moisture, and other factors might shorten the thermostat’s life span. Our team can inspect, repair, or upgrade your thermostat.
5. Frozen Evaporator Coil
An evaporator coil is located within the indoor unit. This component assists with heat transfer as the refrigerant moves through the system. When there’s a refrigerant issue or an airflow restriction, the coil can freeze. A frozen evaporator coil stops the heat transfer process. As a result, your home won’t efficiently cool. In response, our professionals must verify and correct the cause of the problem. Afterward, the evaporator coil shouldn’t freeze as the system operates within specifications.
6. Undersized AC System
Each HVAC system offers a certain volume of conditioned air. If your home was originally built with an HVAC system, it should be properly sized to the square footage and number of floors for effective cooling. However, building additions to a home or other major construction can lead to improper cooling. Other issues, like more people living in the home, can also cause you to outgrow your cooling system. Our professional experience allows us to upgrade the system based on the home’s updated dimensions and use.
7. Cracked Air Ducts
Sometimes, your HVAC system might be operational, but the cool air isn’t reaching the vents with enough volume. In this case, the culprit may be the air ducts. Hidden in attics, crawl spaces, and inside walls, these conduits provide pathways for the air to cool each room.
If the ducts tear or crack, the conditioned air escapes into the home’s structural cavities. The original ductwork can slowly disintegrate as homes reach 30 or 40 years of age. Our professionals can remove faulty ducts and replace them with long-lasting materials, including rigid, flexible, or semi-rigid options.
8. Blocked Vents
For proper cooling, your HVAC system requires an intake vent and several registers throughout the home. Blocking any of these vents or registers with furniture or other obstacles significantly reduces airflow. As a result, the system cannot cool the home as designed.
In addition, blockages within the vents might be an issue. For instance, dislodged drywall around any vent might block the air from moving in and out of the system. With a professional inspection and cleaning, our team can remove any blockages for enhanced cooling.
9. Electrical Issue
Your HVAC system draws a lot of current from the electrical panel. If one or more HVAC components fail, they might trip a circuit breaker. For example, the outdoor unit might stop working with a tripped breaker while the indoor unit is still running its blower fan.
Although resetting the breaker is a common solution, our team should inspect and repair the electrical cause if it happens often. In most cases, the breaker will trip again. Solving the breaker problem will improve the system’s cooling ability and protect your electrical system.
10. Failed Compressor
The compressor is a major part of the outdoor unit. It squeezes or pressurizes the refrigerant, which leads to heat transfer through the condenser. If the compressor fails, however, the refrigerant loses pressure. Warm air might flow through the system but not be fully cooled. Repairing or replacing the compressor with our expert services can solve the cooling issue.
11. Bad AC Capacitor
An unsung hero inside your outdoor unit is the capacitor. Its job consists of starting the outdoor motor and offering it steady energy throughout each HVAC cycle. Because the capacitor deals with massive electrical changes during its operation, it can fail as it ages. Without its electrical energy, the entire outdoor unit cannot function. Lack of cooling in your home can be the result of a bad capacitor. Our team must replace the capacitor and take extra care to protect the system’s electrical components.
12. Seized Fan Motor
The outdoor unit also houses a large fan and attached motor. As the condenser transfers heat from your home, the fan assembly draws the hot air up and away from the hot coils. Due to age and weathering, the fan motor can seize. If the fan cannot spin, the outdoor unit can overheat.
With the heat trapped in the condenser coils, you might feel hot air through your vents. As a solution, our team can repair or replace the motor as needed. If you notice a lack of fan movement, shut off the system and alert our office.
Our Knoxville Team Is at Your Service
Servicing your heating and cooling system is our specialty, but consider our other services for your home, too. At 865 HVAC, we can evaluate your indoor air quality, clean your air ducts, inspect your generator, replace old ductwork, and perform emergency heating and cooling repair work anywhere in or near Knoxville, TN. Safeguarding your home with a reliable HVAC system is our passion. Contact our technicians at 865 HVAC for a quote today!
