As the mercury rises, the coolness of your home beckons. Rushing through the heavy traffic, you reach home, hoping for some respite from the sweltering heat. Obviously, the first thing you do is dump your bag and switch on the AC. The lights blink on, and the AC hums in agreement, but no cool air blows out. That’s when you realize that your air conditioner is working but ac not cooling. Frustrated and angry, you may feel like beating some sense into it, but hold yourself back. Your AC equipment that needs a little attention now and then.
What To Do Before Calling The Technician
Every time this happens, you need not call the AC technician immediately. A few checks you can do on your own and save the technician fees.
1. Dirty Air Filters – Your AC draws in air, cools it, and then circulates it throughout the home. When the air filters become dirty, your AC is unable to draw in air in adequate quantity. As the airflow is restricted, the ac cooling capacity of the AC gets compromised. Frequently changing the air filters ensures that the airflow is smooth and without interruptions.
2. Blocked Vents – Cool air from the AC blows inside the home through the vents. Vents are strategically designed for maximum efficiency. Do not make the mistake of assuming that the vent is unnecessary and close it. This will impact the flow of cool air. You may also block the vents accidentally by placing furniture in front of it. So, check to make sure that the air vents are not closed or blocked.
3. Incorrect Thermostat Setting – By mistake, the thermostat setting may have been changed by somebody in the house. As a result, the AC would be reading your home as sufficiently cool while it is not really so. Check the thermostat and correct its setting if necessary.
4. Dirty Outdoor Unit – the cleanliness of the outdoor unit is equally important. If the outdoor unit is not clean, it will heat your AC and put it under extreme stress. In such a case, the ac cooling will be impacted. Keeping the outside AC unit will improve cooling inside the home as well.
5. Tripped Circuit Breaker – In a split AC, there are two units, the indoor and the outdoor unit. Each of these units has an independent circuit breaker. There is a big chance that one of these circuit breakers has tripped. If that be the case, all you need to do is correct the situation.
What To Do If The Problem Is Bigger
You have done all that you could at your end to improve the cooling in your home. But alas, nothing seems to work. The problem is bigger and out of your scope. You are left with no option so call an HVAC technician. The probable issues could be –
1. Refrigerant Leak – When the AC is low on refrigerant, it does not cool the home sufficiently. The only way that the refrigerant level can drop is when there is a leak in the AC. The technician will have to find the source of the leak, seal it and then top up the refrigerant.
2. Leaking Ducts – The ducts in your home, too, are susceptible to developing leaks. This usually happens due to wear and tear and sometimes due to pesky rodents. Whatever be the reason these leaks need to be fixed. It is because hot and humid air from the attic enters the ducts through these points of leak and increase the temperature of the cold air entering your home.
3. Faulty Compressor – The compressor is responsible for circulating the refrigerant. If there is a problem with the compressor, it will not pump the refrigerant as it ideally should. Unfortunately, the compressor is hermetically sealed and, as such, cannot be opened and any fault it will have to be replaced completely.
4. Fan Problems – Possibly, the fan in your AC is not moving as freely as it should. This could be indicative of motor problems or some blockage restricting smooth movement. No matter the core of the reason, a trained and experienced technician should look at it to implement corrective action.
5. Undersized AC – When you purchased a new AC, you forgot the importance of size. In the end, you bought an AC which was too small for your home. An undersized AC will not cool your home as effectively as a correctly sized AC. When purchasing a new AC, always ask an HVAC professional to first measure your home and then advice about the appropriate size. Even when you make modifications to the existing structure of your home, you need to access the size of your AC. Your old AC may now be too small to cool your better and upgraded home.
Professional Help Is Always Better
Your air conditioner is working but ac not cooling. It could also be a combined effect of two or more problems listed above. If that is the case, only a professional HVAC technician can thoroughly check your system to eliminate all possibilities. Do not make the mistake of trying to save a few bucks because any problem left unattended can aggravate the situation. In the end, these few bucks could make a difference in the longevity of your air conditioner’s life or buying a new one. You do the math yourself about the better option.
Closing Thoughts
If you have taken care to invest in the maintenance of your air conditioner, the chances are that any problem would be a relatively small one. Having said that, an AC is still a piece of sophisticated electrical equipment. Your knowledge about its working is limited. When you are limited by knowledge, it is in your best interest to take professional help. At least you will get a proper solution to the problem. When your air conditioner is working but not cooling, first check for dirty air filters, tripped circuit breaker, and such. If you find no issues at first glance, call the big guns.
