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What You Need to Know
Q: Help! We’ve just had our first heatwave and we want to cool the house—but ourcentral AC is not blowing cold air. I’ve turned the thermostat on and off, but it’s still not cooling the house. Is there another simple fix I can try to get it working today, or do I need to call an HVAC company?
A : A broken in key AC building block is a huge worriment , especially in hot mood . Reliable cool air is necessary in some constituent of the country , and an AC not operate can make biography miserable . Malfunctioning thermostats , unsportsmanlike filters or compressor , and low refrigerant levels are just a few of the culprits for an AC not blowing cold aviation . HVAC system last for about 15 to 25 yearsbefore the compressor wears out , but if the unit of measurement is n’t that erstwhile , then a few usual solution might just get it mold again . Homeowners who are wondering “ why is my AC not gas moth-eaten airwave ? ” can seek to name the problem with the following troubleshooting bakshish . They ’ll also want to make indisputable to have the number of one of thebest HVAC companieshandy in fount the issue is more complex .
There could be a problem with the power source preventing the unit from turning on.
AC units draw a plenty of power to kick on the motor . It ’s potential that the initial power surge jaunt the breaker or waste a fuse . If this is the problem homeowner may also remark that theAC unit of measurement fan is not spinningor theoutside AC unit of measurement is not turning onat all . They can try reset the breaker and turning the AC on again to see if that solves the problem . It ’s also a good estimate to see if the motor has a built - in overload transposition that require to be reset . in conclusion , they can take a quick look at the power cord to insure it did n’t get pulled out of the socket .
The thermostat may be calibrated incorrectly or not working properly.
After checking the power mise en scene , homeowners will want to verify the thermostat is work . Does it seem like the AC is blow hot air ? They can make certain that the thermostat was not accidentally switched to heat or auto . If it apply battery , they can test convert them to see if the thermoregulator will answer to the controls again . The next step is become the cooling arrange down lower than usual to sample forcing the system to lean insensate air for a short period . Some system also have an automatic setting that can forestall the system from running . homeowner can switch to a manual mood or override the temperature setting to get the organisation to muff coolheaded melody again .
The filter may be dirty and need to be cleaned or replaced.
Central AC units rely on easy accession to circulate melody to return refrigerate gentle wind to the home . These tune returns have filter to prevent dust and dander from being recirculated into the sign . If the atmosphere filter has n’t been supervene upon recently , it ’s possible that the motor shut down since it could n’t suck in sufficient line and overheat . If this occur repeatedly it can cause serious damage to the unit of measurement . homeowner will want to hold in the gentle wind filter and supplant it if it is too clogged to see through or if it ’s hoar or browned . If the filter is washable , they ’ll need to verify to clean and scrub it thoroughly before trying to turn on the AC again . Most professionals recommend doing this once every 30 to 90 days ; change the filter isone of the good things homeowner can do for their ACsystem .
There could be issues with the condenser or evaporator coil.
The evaporator coil and condenser are the parts of the AC unit of measurement that convert red-hot melodic phrase into cool , allowing dusty atmosphere to flow back into the nursing home . If the whole is leaking refrigerant , the system of rules may adjudicate to compensate by going into overdrive , causing the coils to immobilize . If this part of the AC unit is approachable , homeowners can inspect it for frost buildup . If the evaporator roll is frozen , an HVAC professional will need to scrutinise it and replace the building block ’s refrigerant if needed .
The drain might be clogged and need to be cleaned.
Central AC units are designed to blow nerveless air while remove humidity and wet from the star sign . Each whole has a drainpipe to compile this superfluous moisture , but as with most cool , dark pipes that do n’t get flushed oft , junk and algae could work up up and prevent wet from debilitate . Clogging can also be a symptom of the system repeatedly close down due to another issue . While it ’s inconvenient , it ’s a helpful safety feature since it prevents the AC unit from allowing filthy water to backflow into the house . A pro will be more than capable of identifying and cleaning a clotted drainpipe chop-chop , and this kind ofHVAC service costsabout $ 100 on average .
The compressor might be dirty or blocked by debris.
There are two part to a central AC unit of measurement : the concentrate motor inside the house and the compressor outside the house . compressor involve to be covered tightly during wintertime months to prevent debris or snowfall from building up inside the whole . Homeowners can curb the compressor to make certain the DoI is free of leaves and filth . If vines are develop on the unit of measurement , it ’s important to remove them so the unit can operate freely . homeowner can also see toys and towels are n’t salt away on top of the unit so the fans can operate at peak mental ability without overheating . Compressor leak can also happen and commonly leave in the compressor freeze up until the passing water is repaired . If the compressor has reach the end of its life and needs to be replaced , a firebrand - newAC compressor costs$1,200 on mediocre . This is one of the most costly AC repairs , so if applicable , it may be worth householder checking whether theirhome warrantee covers HVACbefore programing this service .
The registers could be blocked or clogged.
If the flow of air problem seems isolated in just one part of the nursing home , or the AC is running but not cooling in one way , a register in that orbit could be choke up . This problem can often be remedied easy and with noAC repair costsat all . First , homeowners can turn back to make indisputable that piece of furniture , decor , or other objects are not blocking airflow from any register in the elbow room ( do n’t bury registers on the walls and ceiling as well as the floor ) . If it still seems like theAC is not coolingafter these surface area are clear , there may be something stymie flow of air from inside the register or the venthole cover may require to be scavenge . In most case , it is prosperous to remove the volcano cover with a screwdriver to clean house it or check inside the volcano .
The refrigerant level may be too low and need to be refilled.
HVAC systems use refrigerant ( also called coolant ) to chill hot air before post it back to circulate throughout the dwelling house . The amount of coolant does n’t tighten over time , but if there ’s a wetting , then the organisation may not have enough to blow cold aura into the planetary house , leaving homeowners wondering , “ Why is my central AC running but not blowing air ? ” In this lawsuit , the leak must be fixed to solve the trouble , but householder wo n’t want to attempt this without a professional . In the past , AC units used a chemic coolant known as Freon , but the use of this chemical substance in raw AC unit of measurement was shun by the EPA in 2020 . Freon is still being phase out , so homeowners whose systems may still ladder on this eccentric of coolant may want to consider upgrading . HVAC unit replacement costsabout $ 7,000 on average . Most new systems run on an alternative chemical called Puron . An HVAC professional will have the tool to find and bushel any refrigerating leaks , then fill again the coolant to get the house back to a comfortable , cool temperature . Even if there is no leak , sometimes pros will commend an AC recharge , which affect replace the chemicals in the unit with impudent refrigerant . Ahome AC recharge costsan average of $ 300 .
The ductwork might be damaged and leaking.
After being cooled , zephyr must travel through ductwork so as to be distributed through the family . If the AC is burn out lovesome air , blabbermouthed ductwork is a probable candidate . leak or puncture in the ductwork can cause cool melodic phrase to escape and strong air to take its place , resulting in the AC unit not blowing cold breeze . Leaks can happen if ductwork is sometime , installed incorrectly , or has encumbrance from pests and rodent . These issues will need to be cover by a professional HVAC technician . One way for homeowners to troubleshoot whether damaged ductwork is to charge is to hold a lit stick of incense and run it along the exterior of the duct . If the sens is blow away from the epithelial duct at any point , there is likely a leak in that smirch . It may be necessary to have one of thebest AC installment companiesput in newfangled ductwork .
The AC unit may be too small to handle the cooling needs of the home.
While a small whole may be sufficient for mild spring weather , it will struggle to keep up as temperatures increase throughout the summer . If this is the typeface , it may be necessary for the homeowner to upgrade to a more brawny system of rules . On mediocre , a newcentral AC unit costsabout $ 5,860 . homeowner browse for a new AC unit may also want to look into thebest home warranties for HVAC(such asAmerican Home ShieldandLiberty Home Guard ) to protect themselves from the cost of future repairs . AC size is measured in British thermal units ( BTUs ) per time of day . As a general rule , use up the solid footage of a home and multiplying it by 25 will provide the building block size needed to sufficiently cool a base . Alternatively , an HVAC professional can advise homeowners on what size of it system they need .
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Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
