Summer isn’t here quite yet, but soon enough, we will be giving our air conditioners quite the workout as they work to keep our homes comfortable and healthy.
But what if yours isn’t cooling as it should, or doesn’t seem to be cooling at all?
This is an understandably frustrating issue—when an air conditioner is failing to do the very job it’s designed for. There can be a variety of different reasons for this to happen, and some are potentially more serious than others when it comes to AC functionality. Read on to learn why your cooling system might be struggling, and what can be done about it.
The Air Filter Might Be Clogged
Fortunately, this is a fairly benign, and possibly very easy to fix, problem.
Despite popular belief, the air filter that comes standard in your air conditioning system is not in place to protect your home’s indoor air quality. What it’s actually there for is to prevent particles like dust, dirt, and other debris from getting sucked into your air conditioner and harming the sensitive interior components of your HVAC system.
How your air conditioner operates is by pulling hot air out of your home and expelling it outside. I the air filter gets too clogged up with debris, then it can’t pull out all that hot air effectively. Therefore, even though your air conditioner may be pumping out cold air, the hot air never left… and then you’ll still feel warm even though you’re running your air conditioner.
The air filter should be changed out every 1-3 months, depending on the type of filter you have, the level of contaminants in your home, and how often you use your air conditioner. Try changing it and see if that improves your current situation.
You Could Have a Thermostat Problem
Sometimes a problem with your air conditioner is not a problem with your air conditioner at all, but rather an issue with a miscalibrated thermostat. Check to see that this component is reading the temperature correctly. You’ll also want to check make sure that you actually have it at your desired temperature setting–another member of the household might have switched it.
If the thermostat is, in fact, miscalibrated, this is something we can help with!
Your Compressor Might Have Failed
The compressor is basically the most important part of your air conditioner. It’s highly unlikely a compressor failure will surprise you, unless you have an aging air conditioner (10-15 years old) and/or have not had cooling system maintenance done within the past year.
But this component is the heart of your air conditioner, so if it does fail, you’ll have a pretty big decision to make. In some cases, repairing your air conditioner by replacing the compressor is an option. But in most cases, it’s more economically feasible to replace the entire system–as connecting a new compressor system to an older condenser unit could lead to some inefficiencies, especially if it uses a different type of refrigerant.
For professional and reliable air conditioning service in Lawrenceville, GA and beyond, look no further than Wall Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Contact us today!