Why Is My Central Air Conditioner Not Cooling

Central air keeps your home cool and comfortable throughout the summer... or at least, it should keep your home cool and comfortable. If your A/C isn't functioning as it should, there could be many reasons for this problem. 

If you find yourself asking, "why is my air conditioner not cooling the house?," we can help. Here's what you need to know about keeping your home comfortable throughout the summer.

Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Tips

Before calling an HVAC professional for air conditioning repair, try the following troubleshooting tips. 

Change the air filter. HVAC systems have an air filter. When your air conditioner filter becomes clogged, your A/C may struggle to expel hot air and cool your home.

When this happens, your air conditioner may run continuously without ever achieving the desired temperature. If this goes on for long enough, this can cause the evaporator coil to freeze. When this happens, your A/C will need to shut down and thaw out before it can be run again. 

To fix the problem, clean or replace your air filter. If you're not sure where the air filter is located, check your A/C owners manual or contact a professional. 

Check the setting on the thermostat. Thermostats typically have an "on," "off," and "auto" setting. When the thermostat is set to "on," the fan will blow regardless of whether the cooling function is running. This turns your air conditioner into a giant fan, which can leave you thinking that your air conditioner isn't working properly at all.

To fix the problem, simply turn the thermostat to the "auto" setting. This setting means that your air conditioner fan will only blow when the air conditioner is cooling the home. 

Clean the air conditioner condenser. The air conditioner condenser is the part of the A/C that is located outside your home. The condenser must expel hot air outside your house in order to keep your home cool. If the condenser or its fins becomes dirty, then your A/C may lose its effectiveness.

To fix this problem, cut the power to the air conditioner and remove the condenser lid. Use a fin brush and condenser cleaner to clean the fins around the condenser's exterior. Spray the inside of the condenser with a jet of water from a hose. If needed, clean the coils with special A/C cleaner. 

Maintain good air flow around the condenser by removing weeds and any obstructions within about a foot of the condenser.

Your Troubleshooting Didn't Work? Air Conditioner Not Cooling?

AC not cooling can be a very frustrating problem. If you've tried the troubleshooting suggestions above and AC cooling is still a problem, then it's time to contact the professionals. Your air conditioner could be having a variety of problems including a faulty condenser fan motor, a bad compressor or low refrigerant levels.

All of these problems need to be repaired by a professional. If your air conditioner not cooling enough is a problem, call today to make an appointment. We can tell you how to fix air conditioner not cooling.