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Posted on July 21, 2017 by

Pro Tips on Why Your AC is Blowing Hot Air

Summer is in full swing, and while we are out enjoying picnics, barbecues, and weekends on the water, it’s nice to know you can always return home to the AC for some relief from the heat.

That is unless your AC is acting up and blowing hot air. This is a common issue that many homeowners deal with at least once during the lifetime of their air conditioner.

In most cases, the issue is easy to spot and repair. Some of the most common issues that cause an AC to blow hot air include:

Blown AC Breakers

If your AC is constantly blowing a breaker, there could be a number of issues happening. We know that breakers are designed to control the flow of electricity through your home.

If the breaker detects an overload, it will flip, and the unit will become powerless until the breaker is reset.

flipped-switchA problematic air conditioner will trip the breaker if something is causing it to use too much electricity.

This often occurs during electrical malfunctions.

If you check the switch and its in the off position, all you have to do is flip it back to the on position and the problem should be fixed.

An inefficient unit can also trip the breaker because the unit will be working harder to maintain the same level of efficiency.

Problems such as dirty air filters, frozen evaporator coils, and other efficiency issues could lead to tripping breakers.

Additionally, if your AC was not installed correctly or if the breaker panel is not able to meet the needs of the unit, it will constantly trip.

This is why investing in professional AC installation is so important. A trained expert will know exactly how to set things up so your AC and breaker work together.

Leaking Refrigerant

This is one of the most common problems that cause the AC to stop working. Refrigerant is the substance in the AC that cools and condenses the air.

With low or leaking refrigerant, you will lose cooling power, and your AC will struggle to work efficiently.

Many homeowners will notice low refrigerant and simply add more without giving it a second thought. However, this would be a mistake if you do not take the time to fix the underlying problem.

Some common causes of refrigerant leaks include:

  • Manufacturer’s defects.
  • Accidental pinching or puncturing of a refrigerant tube.
  • Incorrect installation from an inexperienced technician.

Once the source of the leak is located and repaired, we will add more refrigerant to get your AC working normally again.

Frozen Units

Air conditioners require an absolutely clean environment to operate efficiently. If dust or debris gets inside the unit, it will cause components to freeze or break down.

One of the most common components exposed to this risk is the evaporator coil.

An evaporator coil cools and condenses returning air from the system.frozen

If it becomes dirty or contaminated, it will freeze and cause increased humidity in your home or hot air blowing from the registers.

The best way to avoid this is with evaporator coil service. Most evaporator coil packages include the following:

  • Cleaning the coil if it is dirty or frozen.
  • Replacing the coil is damage is extensive.
  • Repairing any issues that could impede the efficiency of the coil.