Your AC blowing hot air might usually have something to do with the temperature setting. However, that is not always the case and there might be an issue with the appliance. So, you might need to find and fix any issues with your AC that causes it to blow hot air. You must do that as soon as possible after you have tried the basic troubleshooting steps.
Furthermore, the problem you are facing might be associated with various parts of the appliance. So, the basic tricks like turning off and then turning on the AC might not be the same every time.
Go through the common issues given below that can cause hot air from ACs. Then, apply the method, as we have discussed, based on your case to get the necessary outcome.
8 Causes for Your AC Blowing Hot Air and their Solutions
You must first reduce the temperature settings and check whether the problem persists. Does your AC keep blowing hot air after that? If yes, you must consider the following reasons behind it –
- Thermostat Issues
A faulty thermostat is the first cause you must consider for your AC’s temperature problems. However, it might not necessarily be faulty and you might simply need to change its settings. Some AC models have the ‘Heat’ and ‘Cool’ options in their thermostats. Switch to the latter setting if you find the former one selected.
You must also check the fan settings on your AC’s thermostat. Do you find the ‘Fan’ option selected on it? Then this indicates that the appliance will keep blowing air after the cooling cycle ends.
In that case, you must change it to ‘Auto’ so that the fan runs only during the cooling cycle. Thus, you should only get cool air from your AC.
- Clogged Air Filters
A clogged air filter can also cause your AC to blow hot air. As you might know, the air filters start getting clogged with dirt and dust after a certain point. You must keep them clean to stop them from creating any problems. However, replacing your AC’s air filters sooner or later would become necessary.
Has it been a long time since you got new air filters installed? Now is the time to get new filters for your air conditioning system again. You must contact a professional AC repair service for a quick filter replacement. Also, you should try to get a full air conditioning system cleaning once every year.
- Leaking Refrigerant
The refrigerant gas is responsible for cooling the air your AC receives from outside. So, the appliance blowing hot air might indicate a refrigerant shortage or a leak. You must take the necessary steps without unnecessary delay in that case. As you might know, you need a professional inspection to detect a refrigerant leak.
Do you hear a hissing sound from your AC? Turn it off and contact an AC technician to find and fix any leaks. You would also need professional help to refill the refrigerant of the appliance. Make sure they also repair the leak, apart from providing a refill. Moreover, a refrigerant shortage usually indicates a leak in the AC.
- Duct Leakages
The duct plays an important role in filtering the air that your AC blows out. So, a leak in it will allow contaminants to enter your home easily. Moreover, that can also cause your AC to blow warm air. You must look for other common signs of duct leakage in your air conditioning system. The signs also include high energy bills and cold spots on drywall, among others.
Call an experienced AC repair service if you get any of the aforementioned signs. They should be able to detect leakage and fix it within a reasonable time. Excessive dirt and dust can cause frequent leaks in your AC duct. So, you must also consider getting a regular professional duct cleaning service.
- Fan Issues
The fan is yet another component that plays a key role in your AC’s cooling performance. So, check for any issues with it if you get warm air instead of cool one. Your AC’s fans might get dirty often, affecting their performance. They would provide you with an inadequate and warm airflow.
You might also need to check the fans for faulty motors or worn-out belts. Depending on the issue, you might have to clean up the fans or repair them. In either case, you must hire a technician to provide you with a solution.
Keep all the components of your AC fans lubricated to prevent further issues with them. In some cases, you might even have to replace the fans’ motors or belts.
- Clogged Drainage
Your AC removes all moisture from the air it takes in and drains them out. However, the drain line through which the moisture is released might often get clogged. In such cases, it would go back into your AC, and the appliance would blow out warm air. The leaking water can also damage your walls, ceilings, and furnishings. So, you must take the necessary steps to prevent that right away.
While wearing protective gloves, you can sometimes clear the clogged drainage all by yourself. Also, disconnect the appliance from power before proceeding with that. Alternatively, you can also clear the drainage with a vinegar solution.
Cleaning up your AC might not always be convenient, especially if you have a busy schedule. So, you must also consider hiring a professional service for this task.
- Evaporator Coils are Frozen
The evaporator coils of your AC can often freeze due to lack of proper airflow. This would usually cause the appliance to start blowing warm air instead of a cool one. You can prevent that by ensuring proper airflow around the evaporator coils. Keeping the air filters clean is one of the necessary steps for doing that.
You can usually replace the air filters all by yourself, if required. However, you need professional help to clean the evaporator coils. Contact an AC technician to get these coils cleaned properly.
- Condenser Coils are Dirty
Your AC’s condenser coils cools the air by absorbing all the heat from it. However, they would fail to do so when they are dirty and you must clean them up. A dirty condenser means that your AC has to work harder to cool the air. Now, that might cause its components to wear down faster than they are supposed to. You must also notice a rise in your energy bills as a result of that.
Clean up the condenser coils regularly after turning off the AC to prevent them from getting too dirty. Also, remove all the debris around them to make sure that they receive proper airflow. Hose down any dirt you find sticking to your AC’s condenser coils.
Get in Touch with a Certified AC Technician
As we have seen, you would need professional help to fix the issue in many cases. However, you must consider carefully before hiring an AC repair service. Make sure they are certified and carry enough experience to provide a competent service. You must also expect fast and efficient service from them.
