Why is My Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air?

Welcome to the first ever blog post in Nortek Environmental, Inc.’s “Why Is This Happening?” Series! In these blog posts, we try to provide you with simple explanations to help make clear to you what could be the cause of various HVAC problems you may be experiencing! For this post, we are going to focus on the following question: Why is my air conditioner blowing warm air? This question is one of the most common issues our customers call experience while running their air conditioner. The fact is, however, that the answer to “Why is my air conditioner blowing warm air?” could be one of many possibilities. We’ve broken down a list for you regarding a few of the most common causes of your air conditioner blowing warm air.

1. A common reason your air conditioner blowing warm air could occur due to human error. Before getting all frazzled because your air conditioner isn’t working how you want it to, check your thermostat to make sure the settings were as you left them. You might have accidentally switched your thermostat to heat rather than cool.
2. An air conditioner blowing warm air could also be the result of a dirty and clogged furnace filter. At Nortek Environmental, Inc., we are always emphasizing the importance of changing your furnace filter on a monthly basis, because it can cause your air conditioner to not function properly. Always make sure that you are changing your furnace filter regularly, and with the properly sized filter as well. Using a furnace filter that is not the correct size is just as bad as not using a filter at all, as it isn’t being used effectively.
3. Another reason why an air conditioner blowing warm air could happen is due to the state of your outside unit, specifically your condenser and compressor. Make sure that the electricity is on for your outdoor unit, because a blown breaker is possible. Also, check around your unit and see if there are any air flow restrictions, such as debris blocking the side of the unit. This can cause your air conditioner to blow warm air. Additionally, in regards to debris causing air flow restrictions, we highly advise having a certified HVAC technician perform an annual maintenance check on your air conditioner to ensure that air flow isn’t being obstructed.
4. Our last common reason to explain an air conditioner blowing warm air is in regards to your refrigerant levels. Your air conditioner is a contained system, meaning that you really should never be losing refrigerant throughout the life of your air conditioner. If your refrigerant levels are low, there is a possibility that your system has a leak, causing your refrigerant to escape. The loss of refrigerant from your air conditioner would result in your air conditioner blowing warm air. When loss of refrigerant is the cause of your air conditioner blowing warm air, the best thing you can do is have a licensed HVAC technician come to your home to repair your system.

If you still don’t know what the cause of your air conditioner blowing warm air, always know that Nortek Environmental, Inc. is here to help you with all of your HVAC needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (630) 548-1500.

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