Imagine this: It’s another scorching hot day in central Florida, and you just got home from work. You open the front door of your home and immediately you’re hit by a wave of hot, humid air. You might ask yourself “why is my air conditioner blowing hot air?” This is a Floridian’s worst nightmare, and summertime can be brutal on your AC unit. At Mechanical One we want to give you the tools to keep your home running smoothly.
There are several issues ranging from incorrect wiring and refrigerant leaks, to dirty filters or compressor failures that can have you asking “why is my ac blowing hot air?”. Aside from giving Mechanical one a call so we can get you taken care of, here are a few common culprits and troubleshooting tips to help you fix your unit.
Common Causes of an AC Unit Blowing Hot Air
There are a number of reasons why your air conditioner might be blowing hot air. Some of the most common include:
- Thermostat malfunction
- Refrigerant Leak or Low Refrigerant Levels
- AC Compressor Issues
- Clogged condensate Drain Line
- Tripped Breaker
- Frozen Coils
- Incorrect Wiring or Shorted Wires
Troubleshooting Tips When Your AC Is Blowing Warm Air
90% of the time the culprit of your hot air issue is going to be in your outdoor condenser unit. This is due to the fact that since you’ve determined the air is in fact blowing - just not the kind we like. The indoor air handler is most likely doing its job and pushing out the air, but something in the condenser is restricting the air from becoming cold on the way out. Try going through some of these common issues:
Thermostat Malfunction
One of the first things you should check when your AC is blowing warm air is your thermostat. Make sure the temperature wasn’t switched by accident and that your unit is set to “cool” instead of “heat”. Make sure you don’t need to replace the batteries, if it applies to your thermostat model. If you’re at a loss and suspect it’s your thermostat, a Mechanical One technician can come out same-day to help diagnosis the issue. They can also offer a Mechanical One Pro-stat thermostat at no cost at the time of service, which can determine there’s a problem before you start to feel it.
Refrigerant Leak or Low Refrigerant Levels
A refrigerant leak can be a little bit harder to diagnose without a certified technician’s help. Here’s what you can do. Check the indoor air handler and the copper refrigerant line. If you see ice buildup that could indicate a refrigerant leak. Listen out for hissing noises or bubbling noises which can also be a tell-tale sign of a leak. If you think you have a leak or that your home isn’t cooling the way it used to, it’s best to turn off your unit and call in the experts at 407-404-4000.
Dirty Air Filters
Restricted air flow is a common problem that will cause your system to overwork itself and then eventually freeze. If your unit froze over and your air filter is dirty, swap it out for a new one, let your system thaw out and then try running it again. Remember changing out your filter regularly increases the lifespan of your unit in the long run.
AC Compressor Issues
A compressor is often called “the heart” of your unit and its main job is to circulate refrigerant through the system and increase the pressure, and the compressor failing is detrimental. If your AC is blowing warm air, here are three things you can check to determine if the compressor may be the culprit.
- Grinding noises or “coins in the dryer”
- Everything starting up, but the compressor
- Breaker popping – from the unit over amping trying to get the compressor to run
Clogged Condensate Drain Line
Drain lines are prone to getting clogged and this will cause your unit to stop working. You can prevent this by maintaining a healthy unit with yearly maintenance through our Mechanical One Fan Club preventative maintenance program. You can guess it may be your drain line if you notice a leak around the air handler, or if the float switch has turned off, inspect the drain pan to see if it’s full, which can trigger the float switch and shut off your system. Your ac unit should drip while running through a PVC pipe near the outdoor unit, if it’s running but not dripping this indicates a clog somewhere in the line. To fix this you should:
- Turn off the AC
- Drain the drain pan and check for clogs
- Try and wet vacuum the drain line outside, attach the vacuum and seal it with a rag if necessary and let it run for a few minutes.
Tripped Breaker
A tripped breaker is the easiest one to determine and might end up in a simple fix. If you check your outdoor condenser is not running whatsoever, it’s a good rule of thumb to check your electrical panel to make sure nothing is tripped. If you notice a tripped breaker, try and turn it back on and see if this resolves the issue. However, if it trips again this could indicate a bigger issue possibly a compressor or electrical wiring issue and you may want to call a licensed electrician to investigate further.
Frozen Coils
If you suspect your unit may be frozen, you can confirm this by opening your air handler panel and checking the evaporator coil as well as the copper line. If you see ice or notice that the unit is leaking, there’s a good chance that your unit is freezing over.
There are a few reasons this could happen, restricted air flow, low refrigerant, your thermostat was set too low for too long, blower fan issues, drainage issues, blocked or disconnected ducts, or a dirty evaporator coil. Here’s what you should do:
- Turn off the AC immediately
- Switch the fan to “On” to help thaw the coil
- Check/replace your air filter
- Inspect vents for blockages
- Call a licensed HVAC tech if the problem repeats or refrigerant is suspected
Incorrect Wiring or Shorted Wires
If you’ve recently gotten an upgraded system or a new thermostat and now your unit is blowing hot air, it’s possible that the tech just mis wired something. If your system was working fine and now isn’t and you’ve ruled out the other possible reasons, it could be a shorted wire, which is a bit hard to diagnose on your own and likely requires the expertise of a trained HVAC technician.
Call On Mechanical One For AC Unit Troubleshooting and Repair
Although it may seem daunting, Mechanical One is ready and able to handle any of these issues with quality technicians and dependable service. Please call our office at 407-404-4000 and one of our dedicated customer service representatives will get you scheduled immediately. These issues are very common during peak season, so don’t hesitate — reach out to us today!
Call Mechanical One at 407-404-4000 for air conditioner repair services in Florida.