Residents of Chicago’s Northwest suburbs and Chicago’s North Shore are all too familiar with the temperature swings we experience throughout the year. While winters can be downright freezing, summer days can quickly turn excessively hot and humid. It’s during days like these that homeowners retreat to their homes to be soothed by their central air conditioning systems.
But when you open the front door and are greeted by a blast of warm or hot air, it quickly dawns on you that something is wrong with your air conditioning system. If your air conditioner is only blowing hot air, you need the help of a reliable HVAC company to repair your system to help keep your family safe and comfortable.
In our most recent blog, the heating and cooling professionals at Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric discuss some common causes of an AC system that’s blowing hot air and how to fix it.
Why Do Air Conditioners Blow Warm or Hot Air?
Here are a few of the most common reasons that warm or hot air is blowing from the vents when the air conditioner is running:
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is a critical component of every cooling system. It extracts heat from the air and moves it outdoors to cool homes down. If there’s refrigerant leaking from your system, though, your air conditioner will struggle to reach the set temperature, and the air can feel warm. If you notice a refrigerant leak, contact an HVAC company immediately, as refrigerant can pose health and environmental issues and should only be handled by a trained technician. Some common signs of a refrigerant leak include a frozen evaporator coil, higher energy bills, and reduced cooling capacity.
Frozen Evaporator Coil
Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil, which is located in the indoor portion of your air conditioning unit, plays an important role in the heat-transfer process, as it is responsible for absorbing the heat inside your home. When airflow is restricted due to a clogged air filter or diminished capacity due to a refrigerant leak, there’s not as much heat for the refrigerant to extract. When this occurs, excess condensation can collect on the coil and eventually freeze over time. Because the coil struggles to remove heat from the air, it may feel like warmer air is coming from your system.
Clogged Air Filter
Your air conditioner’s air filter is responsible for filtering out pollutants and contaminants and preventing them from circulating back into your home’s air supply. If you don’t replace your filter regularly, though, it can become clogged, which can restrict airflow and cause the aforementioned frozen evaporator coil.
Thermostat Malfunction
A malfunctioning thermostat can cause your thermostat to blow warm air instead of cool air. Setting your thermostat fan to AUTO instead of ON can also cause uneven temperatures throughout the home. When the fan is set to ON, it will constantly move air through the ducts and vents even when the air conditioning is not running.
Contact Ravinia Plumbing for AC Repair Services
If your air conditioning system is blowing warm air, or it’s experiencing any other issues, contact the HVAC professionals at Ravinia Plumbing. Our technicians are experienced at repairing all makes and models of cooling systems. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.
