Troubleshooting Your Air Conditioner: Common Fixes for Poor Cooling

When your air conditioner isn't cooling your space, there are a few things to check. The first step is to check the thermostat and reset it if necessary. It's also important to clear the area around the compressor. If the air conditioner turns on and the thermostat is properly adjusted, but the system does not cool down, the air condenser may be dirty or blocked.

To fix this, check the outside of the unit and clean it, removing any debris or weeds that are obstructing air circulation. A clogged or blocked condenser coil could also be causing your air conditioner to work, but not the indoor temperature to drop. The air conditioning system may include an air filter located inside or around the indoor air treatment unit. The filter traps dirt, dust, and other airborne particles when they enter the air handling unit. It keeps the components inside the system cleaner and working more efficiently, and it can also help keep the air in your home cleaner.

A dirty air filter can block airflow and reduce home cooling. In more extreme cases, it can cause the system to shut down completely. Strange smells or sounds combined with an air conditioner that works but doesn't cool down can mean that there is a refrigerant leak (also known as a freon leak). If this is the case, it's best to call an HVAC technician to determine the root cause of the clogging or blocking of the air conditioning coils. The size of air conditioners depends on the amount of cooling they can provide, measured in BTUh (British thermal units per hour). When your home is constantly losing air, you're paying a lot of money for heating and cooling.

When the air conditioner is not working at all, it is often due to an electrical problem. The air conditioner may not receive the electrical current it needs to work. It will be the hottest day of the summer, and no matter how many times you lower the thermostat, you will find that the air conditioner does not blow air cold enough. Your air conditioning system has to work a lot throughout the year to keep you comfortable. If these air conditioning repairs don't work, at least you've covered the most common faults and your service technician can focus on finding the most difficult problem to solve. Most homeowners are able to easily troubleshoot problems and will be able to fix it.

In fact, if your air conditioner isn't cooling and it's starting to break down and requires more repairs and maintenance than usual, it's a sign that it's time to start saving money to buy a new air conditioning system. A heat pump looks similar to an air conditioning unit, with different components inside that allow it to cool and heat the house. So, if the air conditioner works all the time and blows enough cold air, but it still doesn't cool the house properly, heat may be radiating into the house. Insulation and air sealing are part of the solution. When your AC isn't cooling properly, there are several common fixes you can try before calling an HVAC professional. Check and reset your thermostat; clear any debris or weeds obstructing airflow; clean or replace your filter; check for refrigerant leaks; and inspect insulation and sealing for heat loss.

If these steps don't work, then it's time to call in a professional.