Why Your Air Conditioner May Fail To Cool Your Home As It Should

It doesn't matter where you live: when the summer season starts, you expect your air conditioning system to keep your home and family cool and comfortable. Scheduling regular AC maintenance visits helps keep your cooling system running reliably and efficiently while keeping domestic energy expenses down. It also helps prolong the lifespan of your residential cooling equipment, which can be quite expensive to replace.

That said, air conditioning problems can pop up anytime, even if your cooling system is carefully looked after. If your home's interior environment feels warmer than you'd like despite the AC system being turned on, you may need to bring in an AC contractor to identify and fix the problem before it results in a complete breakdown.

So, what are the most common reasons why your AC may fail to blow cool air? Read along to find out some of the usual culprits.

Your AC Is Running Low On Refrigerant

Refrigerant is the working fluid that your cooling system requires to function properly. Without it, your AC equipment can't deliver cooling performance. While refrigerant isn't meant to escape from the cooling system, refrigerant leaks aren't uncommon. When refrigerant leaks exist within your cooling system, the system will end up not having the proper refrigerant level. This will result in an underperforming unit that can't keep up with your home's cooling needs.

If your AC system isn't blowing cool air, it's worth your money to get your AC charge tested. If your AC has a low charge, you might need to have it checked for refrigerant leaks and repaired before regassing the unit. 

You Have Leaky/Obstructed Air Ducts

Another likely reason for a lack of cooling performance from your AC system is related to your HVAC ductwork. If the air ducts that are meant to supply cool air to your indoor living space are leaky or dirty, you may not get cool air from your AC system.

If you have leaky ductwork, you'll need to get the leaks sealed. If the air ducts are obstructed by built-up dirt, having them cleaned can help restore normal cooling action.

Your AC Is Experiencing Restricted Airflow

Your air conditioning system requires unrestricted airflow to cool your home sufficiently and efficiently. If you're not getting cool air from your air supply registers, you could be facing an airflow issue. This is almost invariably caused by dirty air filters.

Air filters perform the important job of removing airborne particles from the air that gets pulled into your AC system through the air return registers. If they become clogged with dirt, they can restrict airflow and result in warm or no air at all coming out of your air supply registers. It can also trigger other problems such as frozen evaporator coils.

Fortunately, a simple air filter replacement can help get your cooling system up and running again.

If you encounter any AC problem that you can't sort out yourself, don't hesitate to contact an AC contractor for assistance.