Has your air conditioner been unsuccessful at cooling your home, and you're not quite sure what is wrong with it? It could be due to one of these reasons.
Low Refrigerant
A common reason for warm air is that the air conditioner has low refrigerant. However, the air conditioner's refrigerant is located in a closed system. You don't need to refill the refrigerant over time, since the refrigerant should technically stay in the system for the lifespan of the unit. If the unit is low on refrigerant, then there is a leak somewhere in the system that needs to be repaired. An HVAC technician can help identify the leak, fix it, and put more refrigerant back into the system.
Undersized Unit
Many homeowners do not realize that an air conditioner needs to be sized properly to your home. If you just moved into a home and are using the existing air conditioner, you may have a unit that is simply too small for your needs. If the air conditioner is too small, it is going to make the home feel warm since it can't produce cold air fast enough to fill the square footage with cold air. The unfortunate thing about an undersized air conditioner is that there is not much that can be done to fix it, since the whole unit needs to be replaced with one of the proper size.
Closed Dampers
Be aware that there are dampers within the ductwork that help restrict airflow to certain rooms. If you've never opened or closed the dampers before, be aware that some dampers may be closed and not allowing cold air to flow into a room. Try adjusting the position of the dampers to see if that fixes the problem.
Dirty Condenser
When was the last time that you cleaned your outdoor condenser? Know that a dirty condenser is going to restrict airflow to the unit, which can cause it to overheat and shut down. Cool air needs to flow into the condenser for the unit to operate, and if the condenser cannot get the air it needs it will produce warm air. Thankfully, a dirty condenser is easy to clean on your own. It will involve powering down the unit and spraying down all the dirt on the ventilation grill from the inside of the unit.
Reach out to an HVAC technician if you need help identifying why your home is warm with the air conditioner on or if you need air conditioning repairs.
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