Why Is My AC Not Blowing Cold Air?

Common causes for A/C malfunctions — some you can fix yourself!

air conditioning service Once upon a time, home air conditioning was considered a luxury, but today, it’s an absolute necessity when the mercury rises here in Suffolk County. If you’re sitting in your home on a sweltering afternoon, and the A/C isn’t blowing cold air, it can be hard to keep a cool head. (Pun intended.)

There are only so many reasons that a cooling system would stop working, and with a little troubleshooting, you might even be able to fix the problem yourself! If not, the expert HVAC team at Burt’s Reliable is always here to help.

Are your thermostat settings correct?

Before you get too deep into the mechanics of your cooling equipment, check your thermostat. Is it set to “cool” or “air conditioning” mode? If so, confirm that the thermostat’s temperature is 5 degrees cooler than your current room temperature. This might get the cool air flowing.

If you have a battery-powered thermostat, and there’s nothing on the screen, your A/C issue might be solved by a couple of new batteries.

Are your vents blocked?

If your A/C equipment is running, but your rooms aren’t getting cooler, then some of your vents might be obstructed. Check each vent to ensure it’s not blocked by furniture, rug or other objects.

Is your cooling system getting power?

If your outdoor A/C unit isn’t running, it might not be getting power. Check the power switch in the box next to the condenser and confirm it’s on. If it is, check the break box to make sure the circuit is powered.

Have you checked your air filters?

During the summer, we recommend you check your air filters at least once a month. If you neglect these filters, your system’s airflow might become obstructed. Check the filter and replace or clean it if it’s clogged.

Is your outdoor A/C unit clogged?

Another way that airflow can become obstructed is if your outdoor A/C equipment is clogged with vegetation or trash. If you think your outdoor cooling unit is clogged, switch it off and clear two feet of space around it. Turn it back on and see if your cool air comes back.

Is it time to call Burt’s Reliable?

Did none of these DIY fixes manage to fix your cooling issue? Then there might be something more significant to repair. Some other causes could be:

Low refrigerant
Frost buildup on your evaporator coil
A clogged drainpipe
Damaged ductwork
Frayed wires or worn-down parts

All these issues should be handled by a licensed HVAC technician like one of the Burt’s Reliable team members. We can perform a thorough assessment of your equipment and find the culprit. Ideally, we can repair the issue right then and there — but there are circumstances when it makes more sense to replace your A/C equipment instead of repairing it. These circumstances include when:

your system uses outdated R-22 refrigerant, which has been discontinued. Replacement parts for these systems (and the refrigerant itself) are prohibitively expensive.
your system has an efficiency rating below 13-SEER. With technological advances and improved efficiency standards, replacing this equipment will save you quite a bit in operational costs.
the cost of repairing your system is over 50% of the cost of new equipment.

Reach out to Burt’s Reliable to arrange service for your home cooling equipment.