Why Your AC Runs But Doesn’t Cool Your House
Any Season HVAC • April 29, 2022
Few things are as frustrating as an air conditioner that runs but does not cool your home. This is especially true if you are in the middle of a hot summer afternoon. The reason is not always easy to pinpoint why, as this problem often occurs without warning. Learn four possible reasons your AC runs but does not cool your home.
Sometimes, your AC does not cool your home because the thermostat is incorrect. For example, the thermostat settings may be on heat instead of cool. You can fix this issue by readjusting the thermostat settings.
Under moderate climate conditions, an undersized AC may cool your home just fine. But when temperatures outside rise, the air conditioner has to run for longer periods and may struggle to keep you cool. The remedy here is to replace the AC with the right-sized one. A qualified HVAC contractor will correctly size your new system by considering your home's square footage, insulation, quality of construction, and local climate.
AC systems have a refrigerant that absorbs heat and humidity from the surrounding air. If your AC does not cool your home, this fluid is likely low or lacking. In most cases, that happens when the system has a leak. A refrigerant leak is a serious issue that can cause refrigerant poisoning. Fix the leaks as soon as possible, and refill the refrigerant to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Your air conditioner has an air filter whose job is to trap dust, dirt, and other airborne particles. But over time, these particles may clog the air filter to restrict airflow through your AC. Consequently, the AC will not be able to cool your home. The clog may also interfere with the working of your system's outdoor condenser unit, indoor evaporator coil, and even the thermostat.
One reliable way to avoid dirt and clogs in your air filters is to clean and replace them regularly. For best results, replace them at least once every three months, although more frequent changes may be necessary if your home has pets.
The compressor keeps your entire AC system running by circulating the refrigerant between the evaporator (indoor unit) and condenser (outdoor unit). If the compressor is damaged, your air conditioner cannot effectively cool your home.
A damaged or malfunctioning compressor needs a replacement. However, compressors are not exactly inexpensive, so you may also opt to replace the whole outdoor unit.
The indoor part of your AC unit has an evaporator coil that removes heat and humidity from the warm air inside your house. After that, the cooler air circulates back to your house. The evaporator coil can freeze and affect the ability of your AC to blow cool air. Some warning indicators of a frozen evaporator coil include:
Fixing issues with the evaporator coil can be extremely difficult if you do not know what you are doing. The best option is to seek air conditioning repair services right away.
You can avoid most of these problems by seeking regular AC maintenance services. And if you need any help with your AC, whether that is maintenance, repair, or replacement, contact our experts at Any Season Heating & Air Conditioning today. With over 25 years of experience handling HVAC systems, you can count on us to deliver exceptional services to you.
1. Incorrect Thermostat Settings
Sometimes, your AC does not cool your home because the thermostat is incorrect. For example, the thermostat settings may be on heat instead of cool. You can fix this issue by readjusting the thermostat settings.
2. Undersized AC
Under moderate climate conditions, an undersized AC may cool your home just fine. But when temperatures outside rise, the air conditioner has to run for longer periods and may struggle to keep you cool. The remedy here is to replace the AC with the right-sized one. A qualified HVAC contractor will correctly size your new system by considering your home's square footage, insulation, quality of construction, and local climate.
3. Low Refrigerant Level
AC systems have a refrigerant that absorbs heat and humidity from the surrounding air. If your AC does not cool your home, this fluid is likely low or lacking. In most cases, that happens when the system has a leak. A refrigerant leak is a serious issue that can cause refrigerant poisoning. Fix the leaks as soon as possible, and refill the refrigerant to protect yourself and your loved ones.
4. Dirty or Clogged Air Filters
Your air conditioner has an air filter whose job is to trap dust, dirt, and other airborne particles. But over time, these particles may clog the air filter to restrict airflow through your AC. Consequently, the AC will not be able to cool your home. The clog may also interfere with the working of your system's outdoor condenser unit, indoor evaporator coil, and even the thermostat.
One reliable way to avoid dirt and clogs in your air filters is to clean and replace them regularly. For best results, replace them at least once every three months, although more frequent changes may be necessary if your home has pets.
5. Damaged Compressor
The compressor keeps your entire AC system running by circulating the refrigerant between the evaporator (indoor unit) and condenser (outdoor unit). If the compressor is damaged, your air conditioner cannot effectively cool your home.
A damaged or malfunctioning compressor needs a replacement. However, compressors are not exactly inexpensive, so you may also opt to replace the whole outdoor unit.
6. Frozen Evaporator Coils
The indoor part of your AC unit has an evaporator coil that removes heat and humidity from the warm air inside your house. After that, the cooler air circulates back to your house. The evaporator coil can freeze and affect the ability of your AC to blow cool air. Some warning indicators of a frozen evaporator coil include:
- A rise in utility bills
- Frost that builds up on the copper refrigerant tubing that connects to the coil cabinet
- Inadequate cooling
- Excessive condensate drainage
Fixing issues with the evaporator coil can be extremely difficult if you do not know what you are doing. The best option is to seek air conditioning repair services right away.
You can avoid most of these problems by seeking regular AC maintenance services. And if you need any help with your AC, whether that is maintenance, repair, or replacement, contact our experts at Any Season Heating & Air Conditioning today. With over 25 years of experience handling HVAC systems, you can count on us to deliver exceptional services to you.
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