Why Is Your AC Blowing Hot Air?
Even though most people are moving into the colder months of winter, there are still a lot of people in the United States that are dealing with warm air almost year-round. If that's the case, then you may be facing one of a number of different problems with your air conditioner, such as an AC that's only blowing hot air through your vents. You might be tempted to call an HVAC technician to have a look at it, but there are a few things that you can investigate right away to see if you can fix it yourself. Read through the list below before you schedule an air conditioning repair service.
Check the Thermostat
Thermostats have an average life expectancy of about 10 years, but that doesn't mean it can't start to malfunction before that. Change the dial from cool to heat to see if the furnace activates properly; if it does, then the problem most likely isn't with your thermostat but with your air conditioner. However, if you change the knobs and it doesn't seem to have any effect on your system, then your thermostat is most likely the problem. Another possible issue could be the connection point between your thermostat and your air conditioning limit switch, which sends the desired temperature reading to your air conditioning unit. If that's the problem, you'll need to schedule an air conditioning repair technician to service it.
Check the Coils
Head outside to the air conditioning unit and take the grates off the side of the system. Look for the condenser coils; once you see them, check to see if they're covered with grime or dirt. The condenser coils are used to convert the hot air outside into the cold air inside, so if there's a barrier between those two points, that process can't take place. Wipe them down with a rag and you should be good as new.
Check the Refrigerant
Inside the condenser coils is your refrigerant. While you can't check these yourself, you can have an HVAC contractor show up to look at it for you and refill it if necessary. Releasing refrigerant into the air is illegal, and if it comes into contact with your skin, it can be toxic, so you need to have a professional look at it for those reasons alone. If that's the problem, then a simple refrigerant refill should be enough to fix your air conditioner and have it working again.