Why Is My AC Blowing Hot Air?

If there is something wrong with your air conditioner, you may notice that it is blowing hot air. When this happens, the best air conditioner repair company can help you figure out the underlying problem and get your AC working again. The last thing you need is a broken AC during the heat of summertime.

Why Is My AC Only Blowing Hot Air? 

An AC can start blowing hot air for many different reasons. The way you fix the problem will depend on the underlying cause. 

Electrical Problems

Electrical problems can make your AC blow hot air. For example, most air conditioners have both an indoor and outdoor breaker box. If the outdoor breaker box gets tripped, the AC will still be able to blow air out. However, the air will be hot. 

Before you call for 24-hour AC repair, try flipping the breaker switch to see if the AC will start working normally. If the breaker immediately trips again, you need to call one of our professionals for air conditioner repair services. 

Issues With Your Evaporator Coil 

Next, you may have a problem with your evaporator coil. While an evaporator coil can break for other reasons, one of the most common causes of a malfunctioning evaporator coil is dirt. If your air filters aren’t changed frequently enough, dust and dirt from your air filter can end up getting on the evaporator coil. 

Once this happens, your AC may freeze up. Ice will build up around the evaporator coil, and you will stop getting any cold air. After calling for air conditioner maintenance and repairs, you may need to wait up to 24 hours for the AC to unfreeze. You never want to remove the ice yourself because this can damage the delicate AC parts.

Low Refrigerant

Refrigerant levels can decline over time. These levels can also drop because of a leak. If there’s a leak, you’ll likely hear a hissing noise. Refrigerant is toxic to your health, so you should immediately turn off your AC and call for 24 hour AC repair if this is the cause. 

Whether you have low refrigerant or leaking refrigerant, you’ll need a professional HVAC technician to recharge your refrigerant levels. According to national laws, this must be done by someone who has a Section 608 certification for handling refrigerants.

Fan Mode Settings

Sometimes, you don’t need emergency AC repair or AC maintenance at all to fix the problem. If you have multiple people in your home, someone may have changed your AC to fan mode. By changing the settings, you can get your air conditioner to work normally again.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

You should also inspect your thermostat to see if it is set properly. Someone may have changed it to a warmer setting, which may be why your system isn’t blowing cold air. 

Additionally, you can try troubleshooting thermostat-related issues. Check your user guide to locate where the thermostat’s sensors are. These can become dusty over time and start getting bad readings, so clean them off. 

Then, use a thermometer to see if your thermostat has the same reading. If it doesn’t, call one of our HVAC experts for professional AC maintenance. 

Clogged AC Units

As a part of your general AC tune-up and maintenance checklist, you should be pulling weeds and brushing away any debris within 2 to 3 feet of your outdoor AC unit. If dirt, dust, and plants are in the way, it can clog up the unit and keep it from working properly. As a result, your AC may only blow hot air.

Dirty Filters

A dirty air filter prevents airflow in your AC, which can reduce the amount of cold air that can come out. It can also lead to other issues, like a frozen evaporator coil. Because of this, it is important to replace or clean your filter every 30 to 90 days. You’ll need to check the manufacturer’s instructions to see how often you should change the filter and how to do it. 

In general, replacing an air filter uses the following steps:

• Turn off the unit. If it’s on when you remove the filter, dust will get blown into your AC.
• Locate your air filter. 
• Remove the filter. 
• Replace it with a new one. The airflow arrows should be pointing toward your unit. 
• Turn on your air conditioner again.

How Can I Get My AC to Blow Cold Air Again? 

If your air conditioner is blowing hot air, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can do first. 

• Check the air filter. If necessary, clean or replace it. 
• See if there is ice or moisture buildup on your AC. 
• Look at the breaker switch to see if it is flipped. 
• Remove dirt and plants that could be clogging the outdoor AC unit. 
• Check the thermostat settings. Make sure the AC isn’t in fan mode. Adjust the temperature.

Sometimes, these tips won’t be enough to get your air conditioner working properly again. When that happens, you need a professional air conditioning service to diagnose the problem and perform the necessary air conditioner repair. 

Get Help With Your AC Unit 

When hot weather strikes, you don’t want to be sweltering in your living room with a malfunctioning AC unit. Through the best air conditioner repair services, you can quickly diagnose the underlying problem and get the 24-hour AC repair options you need. 
At Elkhorn Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, we can help with all of your AC maintenance and repair needs. Whether you need emergency AC repair or your annual AC tune-up, our team knows just what to do. For more information about our services, call one of our AC repair experts today.