Five Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Isn't Cooling Your House

July 10, 2020

When it’s a hot summer morning in Cottonwood & Prescott, nothing feels worse than recognizing your HVAC isn’t operating the way it should. The last thing you should have to do is call for cooling system repair. But your AC is an incredibly complicated system, so it can be difficult to deduce what’s creating the problem solo.

That’s why Connolly Electric & Mechanical created this handbook to help you understand what could be going on with your air conditioner. From here, you’ll uncover some common situtations that explain why your house is feeling uncomfortable. And even though a few of these are straightforward DIY tasks, you might have to call in an expert for home comfort system repair.

And if need help, Connolly Electric & Mechanical is prepared to take care of your home. Here are five reasons why your air conditioner may not be cooling your home in Cottonwood & Prescott.

1. Your Thermostat Settings Could Be Off

Every home uses their thermostat a little differently to suit their particular needs. Even so, a number of homeowners make the error of setting their system to “On” instead of “Auto.” With this setting, the fan in your system will continue to blow even when you’ve reached your desired temperature.

This can look like your AC is distributing warmish air, when in fact it’s simply using the fan more frequently than necessary. Switch this setting and determine if things are different.

2. Your Cooling System Needs Some Cleaning

There are two principal spaces to check for dirt or dust accrual when your air conditioner doesn’t feel like it is operating correctly.

First off, take a look at your system’s filter. If you don’t switch your filter often enough, accumulated dirt can make it more difficult for air to travel through and cool your home. If your filter is visibly dirty or dusty, it’s definitely time to replace it. (And in general, you should switch it about once every three months at a minimum.)

If your filter seems clean, move to your outdoor unit. See if there’s enough clearing around the unit and clean up plants or debris close by. This piece of your system lets out the heat from your home. If the coils outside are blocked, you won’t be comfortable indoors.

We suggest scheduling professional air conditioner maintenance each year to keep your equipment running like it should and to keep your warranty valid.

3. Your AC is Releasing Refrigerant

Refrigerant is the chemical that cools down the air in your space. It moves between your internal and outdoor system pieces to soak up and discharge heat, to help your rooms remain the right temperature. If there is a leak along the way, you won’t be feeling comfortable again until you schedule professional air conditioning repair.

Signs of a refrigerant leak include a decrease in cooled air, climbing power charges, frozen evaporator coils and odd hissing noises originating from your HVAC.

If you think refrigerant might be leaking, call Connolly Electric & Mechanical for AC repair as soon as possible. Refrigerant can also be harmful to your family’s health.

4. One or More Elements Need to Be Replaced

Your cooling system includes a couple important pieces. These include the blower, evaporator coils, compressor, fan, condenser coils and expansion valve. If any part is failing, your home comfort declines.

Our Connolly Electric & Mechanical technicians are well-trained and skilled in all areas of HVAC. They can help you diagnose and repair any issue.

5. Your AC Needs to Be Upgraded

If your equipment is older than 10 years old, it is probably time to consider new air conditioner installation. As your system gets older, it unfortunately won’t function as well as it did in the beginning. And it might be making your place less comfortable.

If your HVAC unit is more current but still isn’t keeping you cool, it might be too small for your home. HVAC systems are not all the same. An air conditioner that’s not big enough just can’t chill a house the way a correctly sized HVAC can.

Create a More Comfortable Home with Connolly Electric & Mechanical

You won’t have to use any time this summer in an unpleasant space. When your air conditioner isn’t functioning correct, turn to Connolly Electric & Mechanical. We’re pros in AC repair. Contact us at 928-251-4327 right away.