Electronic Control Board Or Pcb Assembly
If your air conditioner not blowing cold air and you have inspected the air filter and fan motor and found them okay, then you may have a problem with the Control Board, sometimes referred to as the PCB. This control board, in conjunction with a thermister, monitors the incoming air temperature and turns the compressor on or off depending on the selected temperature. The thermister is connected to the control board and will extend to the front of the evaporator coil. If the control board is defective, it may not send power to the compressor, and no cooling will take place. Inspect the thermister first for any signs of damage or corrosion before condemning the control board.
Frozen Coils Due To Low Airflow
Extensive overheating issues arent the only kind of problem you can experience. Another problem caused by the AC not blowing cold air is frozen coils. Low airflow from a clogged filter results in overheating and causes condensation to form on the evaporator coil inside the unit.
Too much dirt on the coils causes the refrigerant to freeze the condensation. As ice builds, the units cooling power decreases. Eventually, too much ice will cause the air conditioner to produce warm air or stop working altogether.
Look inside the air handler. If you notice ice on the AC evaporator coil, turn off the system and let it thaw. Then, contact a professional for AC maintenance and cleaning to prevent future issues.
The Evaporator Coil Or Condenser Is Worn Out
Why is my AC not working? Well, if your air conditioner seems to struggle with its ability to cool down a room some days and not others, its possible the evaporator coil became damaged.
A broken evaporator coil can cause freon levels in your unit to rise or drop while the air conditioner is in use. These varying freon levels might impact how well it cools each area of the house when you turn on the unit.
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What To Do If Your Ac Unit Is Not Cooling Your Home
1. Check the temperature setting on the air-con thermostat It may sound simple. Still, when a condensing unit is running but not blowing cold air, its simply a matter of turning the thermostat temperature setting to Fan from Automatic. Also, examine the circuit breaker or breaker box to see if they work correctly.
Easy fix examine and reset the thermostats switch. The switch should read Fan instead of Automatic.
2. Replace dirty filters discard and clean the return-air filter. If you cant see through the filter, replace it. If your system can supply conditioned air and see through the filter, examine the other air-con parts.
3. Unclog the HVAC units condensation drain track down the edge of the indoor portion of the condensation drain line. After that, visually examine it for clogs. If you discover clogs, carefully clear the drain line using the edge of a screwdriver or any other narrow item. After wiping out algae/mold clogs, pour the vinegar through the condensation pan. The pan sits beneath evaporator coils within the blower unit. Vinegar prevents future clogs and kills residual mold buildup.
4. Diagnose duct malfunctions If you own an unfinished basement, examine your ductwork for any loose joint. Refit the joints edges and tape the new joint securely using duct tape if the joint is loose. If a ductwork joint becomes loose within a wall, you cant uncover it hence youll need to contact an HVAC pro.
Faulty Ac Pressure Switch
There are two AC pressure switches in your car that monitor the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side of the air condition system for safety reasons.
If the pressure gets too high it will stop the AC compressor from cooling the system anymore because of safety reasons.
If the pressure gets too low, it will also shut off the function of the AC compressor.
If this AC pressure is faulty, it can give the AC compressor faulty signals to stop even if it shouldnt, and this will cause your AC system not to function at all.
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Low Freon Levels Can Lead To Ac Not Getting Cold
Refrigerant is used to facilitate the heat-cold exchange. Without it, no air conditioner can work properly. If your refrigerant is slowly leaking from the refrigerant lines, you will start seeing your air conditioner cooling less and less.
On top of that, all other parts of the AC unit can be at harm. At low freon levels, both compressor and the motor will start working extra hard in order to compensate for the loss of refrigerant.
The only way to fix this is to refuel the freon. You might want to check our guide on how exactly to recharge an air conditioner with refrigerant.
Caution: Its best to leave the recharging of freon to HVAC professionals. Its hard to DIY it. On top of that, you have to first find the leak, and fix it. Otherwise, the added freon will just leak out and you will, in some time, again experience the inadequate temperature of the air coming from the air conditioner.
Need A Professional Help?
These were the basics of what to look for when trying to solve the problem of air conditioners not blowing cold air but running.
For professional help, you can consult an HVAC professional in your area. If you need a bit of help finding good vetted professionals, you can fill in this form and you will get some quotes and advice for free.
Why Is The Ac Not Blowing Cold Air
From very simple issues like a thermostat set incorrectly or a dirty filter…to a more complex situation that requires replacing components…there are a wide variety of reasons why you may find your air conditioner running, but not lowering the temperature in the house. Well outline some items you should check before calling a professional here. For a little more detail, visit our troubleshoot an air conditioner page.
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Faulty Ac Compressor Clutch
Some car compressors use a clutch inside the air compressor. The serpentine belt powers the air compressor pulley, and when you activate the AC the clutch is connecting the air compressor to the pulley. This makes the AC compressor to spin and power the AC system.
If this clutch is too worn, it may cause the AC compressor not to start at all. You can replace this clutch in many AC compressors or even remove shims for the clutch for it to work a little bit more.
Most newer cars have a variable AC compressor, though, and in this case, no AC compressor clutch can fail.
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Faulty Blend Door Actuator
When you turn the heat controller on the AC control unit, there needs to be something that controls the heat inside the car. This part is called the blend door actuator inside your car, and it is controlling a flap that is redirecting hot or cold air inside of your car.
This setup can look a little bit different, but the main function is the same. If this actuator is faulty, your car might blow hot air out from the vents even if you require cold air.
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My Window Air Conditioner Is Still Not Blowing Cold Air: Is It Time To Replace It
Repairing a window air conditioner is a pretty costly affair compared to purchasing a new one. When confronted with a decision on whether to repair or replace, go with replacing it makes more sense than repair. The older the unit, the less investment into repairs is justified as a rule of thumb.
The decision also depends on your circumstances, like your budget and plans. If you are soon moving to a different house, it would not be prudent to buy a new window AC.
The main advantage of replacing the AC over repairing one is that it is more cost-effective in the long run.
The disadvantage of replacing is that it may cost more in the short term.
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Reason : Youve Got A Tripped Circuit Breaker
Imagine an AC fix as easy as flipping a switch. Well, if your AC stopped blowing cold air because of a tripped circuit breaker, youre in luck.
AC units usually use two circuit breakers, one inside and one outside. If your outside breaker is tripped, your AC may seem to work just fineonly your AC unit will blow warm air instead of cool. No problem. All you need is a quick breaker reset and youll be good to go.
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How Do I Fix My Ac Not Getting Cold
There are two ways to go about fixing your AC: DIY or professional help. Once youve figured out the root cause of your AC units warm-air problem, you may be able to fix it on your own.
You can try resetting your tripped circuit breaker, setting your thermostat to AUTO instead of ON, removing debris from your outdoor unit, or if youre feeling extra craftyclean your fan blades .
However, sometimes it simply takes a professional touch. Want to learn more about getting a modern HVAC upgrade at no upfront cost? We can help.
Dirty Compressor Not Compressing Refrigerant
Despite having normal refrigerant levels, a dirty compressor in the outdoor unit is another reason for the AC not blowing cold air. As the compressor does its job of cooling the warm air, it causes the refrigerant to decrease in temperature. If the compressor is too dirty, it will malfunction.
A malfunction results in the compressors failure to cool the warm air as it passes over the evaporator coil.
While debris is one of the primary reasons for the compressor not working properly, rainfall, high winds, grass clippings, and pests are other common offenders that contribute to its shutdown. Mold, sludge, and other growth may also form and cause problems.
To fix a dirty compressor, contact an HVAC professional. Theyll clean it for you .
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When Is It Time To Upgrade My System
Sometimes it is better to admit defeat and purchase a new, upgraded air conditioner system. Obviously, for residential systems, this is expensive and needs to be thoroughly thought about. For most other air conditioner types, though, it can be an easy decision.
- If the system is over 10 years old. Central AC systems are designed to last at least 15 to 20 years. However, this wasnt always the case. Older systems also use the R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer legal to install new. Upgrading to a newer, highly energy-efficient system that uses R-410a is a wise investment for your home.
- Problems constantly reoccur. Some systems seem to break down each season, or you fix one problem only to discover another one. In these cases, if you are going to spend money, you may as well pay to have a new system installed. If you have a central AC system, it may be wise to upgrade to a mini split system instead. A cheaper install and better efficiency to save even more.
- High repair bills. HVAC technicians are great, and most do a wonderful job restoring your system to like-new condition. However, they come at a cost. If you find that repairs and replacement parts, as well as labor costs, are more than you feel should be spent, an upgrade to the AC system is warranted.
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Causes Of Car Ac Not Blowing Cold Air
The most common reason why your AC is not blowing cold air is due to an empty AC system, caused by a leak. It can also be caused by a faulty AC pressure switch, a bad compressor, or a damaged AC condenser. In more rare cases, it can also be an issue with your heat controller.
The main issues that occur with the cars air conditioning system are due to poor maintenance. Here is a more detailed list of the most common causes of a car AC not blowing cold air.
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Is Your Ac The Right Size
An air conditioner that is too big or too small will wear out your air conditioner, and cause a whole bunch of problems. This includes no cold air.
We have a comprehensive guide on air conditioner sizes that you can find here >
Unfortunately, this is an issue that will continue unless you replace your air conditioner. If this is an option for you, we can help make sure you get the right air conditioner the first time.
If replacing your ac unit is not possible at this time, talk to us about setting up regular maintenance appointments. We might not be able to completely solve your problem, but we can do our best to keep you cool and comfortable.
Compressor And Refrigerant Issues
Unfortunately, more complex issues with the compressor and refrigerant are often more hassle than theyre worth for the DIYer. Air conditioning is a closed system, so you should never need to top off your refrigerant. If its low, its because theres a leak. Until the leak is fixed, any refill is temporary.
If your refrigerant turns out to be low, check your system to see what kind of refrigerant it uses, and keep that in mind when getting estimates. If you have an older Freon-based system that is being phased out, it may be time for a central air upgrade.
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Important Elements Need To Be Checked On Rv Ac
If you start to notice any issues with the RV AC, like a change in temperature or a strange noise, then there are some specific parts you should check. These components should be checked annually even if there are no specific issues, and regular cleaning and maintenance will keep your AC running properly. Make sure you turn the power off entirely before checking any of the elements, so theres no risk of injury.
Air Filter
Your air filter helps to keep dirt and other debris out of your RV. However, it can become blocked over time, limiting the flow of cool air, and can cause your AC to overheat. If you notice hot air coming into your RV, you should go and check the air filter, which is located inside your AC.
You can usually open your AC by hand, or use a screwdriver if you have a closed access panel, and access the filter. Slide it out and look for dirt and debris blocking it. Cleaning the RV AC filter regularly is a good way to avoid the issue.
Evaporator Coil
Your evaporator coil works to cool the air within the AC by absorbing the heat. If you notice warm air coming through, its usually a sign that something is wrong with the coil, and youll need to check it. The evaporator coil is usually found on the inside part of the AC and near the air handler.
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Condenser Coil
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Fan Blower
Ducts
Thermostat
Understanding Your Vehicle’s Ac System
The air conditioning system in your vehicle can be complex due to the location of the hoses and lines. Essentially, your vehicle’s AC system compresses and heats the refrigerant, then allowing it to decompress and condense into a liquid that causes it to rapidly lose heat. This process absorbs heat from the car’s cabin and is continuously repeated to achieve your desired temperature.
The basic concept is much easier to understand when the components are broken down, as follows:
- The compressor runs off an engine belt that squeezes or compresses the gaseous refrigerant.
- Once it has been pressurized, the condenser cools it down through a series of finned tubes where it returns to a liquid state. This liquid will then pass through a dryer or receiver that removes excess water to eliminate the risk of ice crystal formations inside the AC system.
- Next the liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator via a thermal expansion valve where it is then exposed to heat from the vehicle’s cabin. At this point the fluid boils, reducing it to a gas form once again. During this process the heat from the surrounding air is absorbed causing the evaporator coil to chill. Finally, it is redistributed throughout the cabin by the blowing fan through the vents as cool, crisp air-conditioned air.
Here are the top 3 reasons why your car AC may not be blowing cold air:
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Ac Problems You Can Solve
Thermostat Settings If you have noticed your AC blowing both cool and lukewarm air off and on, it may be because your thermostat is set to on. When its set to on it runs the fan 24/7 even when the air isnt being cooled. Try setting your thermostat to auto and see if that makes a difference.
Dirty Air FilterThe air filter strains particles from the indoor air supply but when it fills to capacity, less air passes through. When this happens, your system has less air to condition. For example, your thermostat may say 74 but the temperature wont get below 80 degrees. A dirty air filter could also freeze your evaporator coil. When it freezes, itll turn into a block of ice and stops any cool air from going into your home. Check your air filter and replace it every three months or sooner if it looks dirty.
Dirty Outdoor Unit Once your air conditioners indoor unit absorbs the heat from the inside, it then transfers the heat to the outside unit . If the condenser is dirty or covered in debris you need to remove the blockage so that it can release any built up heat. If not, your AC will struggle to cool your home. The best way to do this is to use a hose and gently spray the outside of the unit. Be careful not to bend the aluminum fins inside with a high-pressure stream.