Summer is well on its way, which is certainly exciting! Before you know it, you’ll be going to barbecues, eating plenty of ice cream, and turning on your air conditioner for some cooling relief. But what happens if when you turn on your AC, you notice that it isn’t producing enough cool air?
Obviously, a cooling system that doesn’t actually cool is not much use to you. And of course, when temperatures begin to soar, this can be a big problem! Fortunately, a friendly HVAC technician will be able to determine the root cause of the issue, as there are a number of things that might be causing the issue. Below, we have listed some of the reasons why your AC isn’t producing cool air to give you a bit of a head start.
Here’s What Might Be Going On
There are a number of reasons why your air conditioner might not be producing enough cool air:
Incorrect Thermostat Settings
Though you might think this is too obvious, we frequently find that the reason ACs stop producing cool air is that the settings on the thermostat have been changed. It might be that the thermostat is set either too high or to “fan only” mode. Be sure to double check your thermostat!
Leaking Refrigerant
Refrigerant is essential to the operation of your air conditioner since it is what allows the system to remove heat from your indoor air to keep your home nice and cool. Refrigerant won’t run out, but it can certainly leak out, which is a big problem! When refrigerant levels drop, your AC can lose its cooling ability, and worse, this places the compressor in danger of overheating and burning out! If you experience a refrigerant leak, a professional HVAC technician will have to “recharge” the system.
Broken Compressor
The compressor is the heart of your AC–it places refrigerant under pressure to start the cooling cycle. So if the compressor stops working for any reason, your AC won’t be able to produce any cool air. The compressor can experience all sorts of issues, including a burnt-out motor, a failed start capacitor, or dirty components. Therefore, it is important to have a qualified technician repair any issues that may exist with your compressor.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
If the circuit breaker to the indoor unit of an AC trips, the fan won’t turn on at all. But if the breaker for the circuit to the outdoor unit trips, the indoor fan and other components will continue to run, but there won’t be any cooling since the outdoor compressor won’t be running. Check to see if any circuits have tripped in the electrical panel. If so, reset them and see if that resolves the problem.
Call in a Professional
Remember, it is important to contact a qualified HVAC professional for air conditioning repair in Portland, OR, as only a professional has the training, tools, knowledge, and experience to properly handle the complex needs of your cooling system.
To schedule your air conditioning repairs, contact the experts at The Clean Air Act Inc. today!