Why is my AC running but not cooling?

When the sun is beaming down, few things are worse than realizing your air conditioner is running but not cooling your home. If this happens, there are a few different causes that may be to blame. Depending on the cause, you may need professional air conditioner repair or an AC tune up. Read on to learn more. 

Reasons Why Your AC Is Running and Not Cooling 

To find out why your AC is running and not cooling, you may need to call for air conditioning repair in Medford. Our air conditioning specialists can inspect your AC to see which one of its many parts is at fault. We can also help with annual AC maintenance, so you can prevent breakdowns from happening in the future. 

Within your air conditioner, there are many components that must work together to keep your home cool. A split system will have an indoor air handler, thermostat, evaporator coil, copper tubing, and refrigerant lines. You’ll also have blower motors, condenser coils, and compressors. 

All of these parts have to work together to cool your home. If one of them breaks, your home won’t stay cool anymore. The following reasons are some of the most common causes why an AC will run and not cool your home. 

1. Tripped Breakers

Often, air conditioning systems have both indoor and outdoor breaker panels. If the outside breaker panel is tripped on its own, your AC will keep blowing air. However, this air will be warm. 

You can try troubleshooting this AC repair problem by seeing if any switches have flipped. Make sure you don’t notice any other issues. Then, try flipping the switch to its normal position.

If the air conditioner starts running normally again, you’ve fixed the problem. However, tripped breakers may indicate other issues if they trip frequently. If this is the case, it’s important to schedule an AC maintenance visit.

2. Refrigerant Leak

Your air conditioning system uses refrigerant to cool your home. As your system ages, your refrigerant levels can decline naturally. They can also decrease if you have a refrigerant leak. If there is a refrigerant leak, turn off your AC and get the air conditioner repaired right away to fix the leak. 

No matter what causes low refrigerant, the result is the same. Your air conditioner will be able to keep blowing air, but it won’t be cold. Until an HVAC technician recharges the refrigerant, your air conditioner won’t cool your home properly. 

Even if there isn’t a leak, you need professional air conditioner repair to prevent future problems. When refrigerant is low, it causes the compressor and other parts of the AC to work extra hard. As a result, other parts are more likely to break down. Low refrigerant can also cause frozen ACs, which is unenjoyable to deal with on a hot day.

3. Dirty Air Filter 

You’re supposed to change your air filter every 30 to 90 days. If you are unsure about how often it needs to be cleaned or replaced, check the manufacturer’s guide. 

Changing the air filter is important because it protects your unit from dirt, dust, and other contaminants. If the filter is dirty, it blocks the airflow in the unit. It can also cause your AC to freeze. 

When this happens, your air conditioner won’t be able to blow cold air anymore. You can generally fix the problem by changing your air filter. If the dirty filter has caused the evaporator coil to freeze, you will need to wait for it to thaw.

4. Frozen Evaporator Coil

A frozen evaporator coil is a fairly common cause of an air conditioner not blowing cold air. Frozen coils can occur because of dirty filters, a lack of airflow, or something wrong with the coil itself. 

For example, a dirty filter can cause the evaporator coil to become dirty. Then, this can cause it to freeze. 

While you can try replacing the air filter, you’ll need to get professional air conditioner repair services if anything else is wrong. The HVAC technician can clean the evaporator coil and look for other issues. 

5. Undersized Air Conditioners

Another common cause of an AC not blowing cold air is because of its size. If you have an undersized air conditioner, the unit will struggle to keep up on hot days. This may cause it to blow warm air, and it can also freeze up. 

You can always ask your HVAC technician if your AC is the right size. An undersized air conditioner may freeze frequently. The added workload also puts extra strain on your AC, which can increase the likelihood of it breaking down. 

6. Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If your thermostat settings are incorrect, you can often resolve the issue yourself. Sometimes, a household member may change the thermostat settings without informing others. Check if the temperature is set correctly and ensure it isn’t in fan mode. Fan mode doesn’t blow cold air, so it’s generally not the setting you want on your AC. 

After checking the settings, you can also try troubleshooting some thermostat issues. First, use a reliable thermometer to see if it is getting an accurate reading of the air. Then, you should clean off the thermostat’s sensors. These can become dusty over time, which can prevent them from getting an accurate reading.

Learn More About Air Conditioning Repair in Medford 

If your air conditioner is running and not blowing cold air, it is a sign that there is something wrong with your AC. You can schedule a professional air conditioner repair with Alpha Heating, Cooling & Electrical. Afterward, arranging for annual AC tune up and maintenance appointments can help you prevent future breakdowns. 

For more information about our air conditioning repair in Medford, reach out to our experienced AC professionals today.