Your air conditioner is the only thing stopping your home from being an oven in the middle of summer. But an air conditioner that doesn’t blow cool air is enough to make anyone sweat and feel stressed.
Is your air conditioner not cooling? A clog, a refrigerant leak, and age can cause this sudden issue. The HVAC experts from Charles Stone have broken down the common reasons behind this issue and what you can do if it happens to you.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Cooling?
Many common culprits can cause an air conditioner malfunction. Some issues can be fixed with a simple repair, while others may require replacing specific components outright.
The common reasons include:
- Incorrect Thermostat Settings: If your AC blows warm air, the fan settings might be the cause. First, check that your thermostat is set to “cool” instead of “heat,” as the heating setting prevents the AC from running.
Additionally, if your fan is set to “on” rather than “auto,” the system may circulate air without cooling it. Change the setting to “auto” so the fan only runs during the cooling cycle.
- Dirty or Clogged Air Filter: As the air filter gathers debris, it restricts airflow. Less air circulates over the evaporator coils, potentially leaving them too cool and freezing.
In turn, the coils cannot cool the air, resulting in worse performance and even causing the system to blow warm air. 
- Blocked Condenser Unit: Condensers are part of your outdoor unit. However, they can become vulnerable to the elements because they are located outside.
Nearby foliage, such as overgrown bushes or plants, can block the condenser, preventing the coils from properly releasing heat from the indoor air.
- Damaged Heat Pump: Your heat pump does double duty by heating and cooling your home. If located outside, it can experience problems similar to AC condensers, potentially clogging, freezing, or damaging components.
Check settings, filters, and the condenser for any issues, and call an HVAC expert if everything looks fine but your home is still too toasty.
- Refrigerant Leak: The essential ingredient flowing through the AC coil that moves your home’s heat to the outside condenser.
If a leak occurs, the low amount of refrigerant cannot perform the heat exchange, leaving your AC running like normal but unable to provide adequate home cooling.
- Frozen Indoor Evaporator Coils: The evaporator coils are where the vital heat exchange occurs. Less warm air can reach the coils if the circulation is obstructed, typically from a clogged filter.
Without the warm air, the stagnant coils can eventually freeze, reducing cooling efficiency and potentially shutting off the system entirely.
- Improper Unit Sizing or Installation: When an AC unit is not correctly sized or installed, its cooling functions can worsen.
Oversized units can encounter cycling issues, while undersized units might not have enough power to cool a larger home sufficiently. This common mistake can be avoided by having an HVAC professional properly size and install your new unit.
- Leaky Ductwork: In some cases, your AC unit is properly cooling, but the cooled air isn’t making it where it needs to be, thanks to problematic ducts.
Duct leaks can be attributed to age, pests, or improper sealing. When present, these openings allow the circulating air to escape, resulting in less effective or no cooling in your home.
- Old System: Your AC unit won’t run at its best after years of usage. Components wear down, worsening overall cooling functions.
When your AC reaches the end of its lifespan, it’s time to replace it with a new system.
- Mechanical Issues: With increased use, your AC system’s components can suddenly malfunction. Parts like fans may lose alignment, or dirty coils can disrupt the critical cooling process.
Routine AC maintenance can swiftly address these small issues before they become much more costly repairs.
What to Do if Your Central AC Is Not Blowing Cold Air
What do you do now that you have identified your AC’s problem? Luckily, a lot of these problems can be easily solved with simple DIY maintenance steps, which include:
- Checking the thermostat settings to make sure they are set correctly for cooling
- Inspecting for refrigerant levels in case of a leak
- Changing out dirty air filters and cleaning condenser coils for better efficiency
If you’ve completed these steps and your air conditioner still isn’t working, it’s time to call an HVAC expert.
A professional will assess your system and recommend a solution, which may include repairs or replacing components or the system itself.
Still No Cold Air? Let the Pros at Charles Stone Handle It
Charles Stone has the HVAC solutions to restore your air conditioner. Using our three decades of HVAC expertise, our team professionally addresses your malfunctioning system with effective and efficient maintenance tune-ups and repairs, restoring your cooling in no time.
Join Charles Stone’s Maintenance Membership Program and enjoy benefits like two maintenance visits, 10% discounts on parts and labor, and more. HVAC maintenance has never been more convenient and affordable.
In need of an AC tune-up? Charles Stone HVAC professionals are ready to deliver high-quality maintenance and repairs to keep your AC running strong. Our team assists the homeowners across the Nashville metro area, including Franklin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, Mount Juliet, Cookeville, Lebanon, and beyond. Give us a call at (931) 342-1149 or schedule online!
