As the summer heat intensifies in Edmonton, a fully functioning air conditioning system becomes essential for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. However, it can be frustrating and inconvenient when your AC unit is running but not effectively cooling your home.
This scenario is not uncommon, and several factors can contribute to this issue. Understanding these potential problems can help you troubleshoot and address the situation more efficiently.
Read on to find out why the AC is running but not cooling.
Dirty Filters
Air filters are critical for maintaining your home’s indoor air quality and ensuring the proper operation of your AC unit. They collect everything in the air so that it doesn’t damage the delicate machinery within your air conditioner.
When these filters become clogged with dust, dirt, and debris, they restrict the airflow through the system.
This restricted airflow forces your air conditioner to work harder than necessary, which can lead to a decrease in cooling efficiency.
Regularly check your air filters, and make sure they’re nice and clean. You should be checking them out every few months. If it’s been a while, it might be time to replace your air filters entirely.
Seeing a lot of dirt on your external unit is a major sign that you should be taking the time to at least inspect your air conditioner filters, if not replace them.
Look at Your Thermostat
Sometimes, the answer to an air conditioner problem is the simplest one. Look at your thermostat, and make sure no one has changed the settings when you weren’t paying attention.
If your thermostat requires batteries, you might also want to make sure those batteries don’t need to be replaced. You can also try resetting your thermostat, just in case it’s turned itself off somewhere along the way.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant is essential for the cooling process, as it absorbs heat from the air within your home and releases it outside. When the refrigerant levels are insufficient, your AC unit cannot perform this heat exchange efficiently, leading to inadequate cooling.
Unless you’re a skilled HVAC/R refrigeration professional, you’ll want to bring someone in to check your refrigerant levels and check your unit for any leaks.
If your refrigerant is low, you have a leak. Contrary to popular belief, air conditioners do not need to be topped up.
Leaky Ducts
The ductwork in your home is responsible for distributing cool air from the AC unit to various rooms. When there are leaks or gaps in the ducts, a portion of this cool air escapes before it gets to its destination, resulting in uneven cooling and reduced overall efficiency.
Carefully inspect all your ducts, and check for any issues. Take an especially thorough look at any seams, which could have come apart. While you’re at it, listen for weird noises and check for blockages within your system, which could point to a bigger problem with your AC system than just having leaky ducts.
You may be able to fix smaller leaks in your AC ducts yourself with duct tape, but if you have large or many gaps you’ll want to get an expert to take a look. Some of your ducts might be within your walls, as well, which you would also need a professional to inspect.
Electrical Problems
A home AC system relies on a complex network of different electrical components to operate, including wiring, capacitors, and circuit breakers.
When any part of this electrical system malfunctions, it can disrupt the cooling process and lead to inadequate performance. Most of these problems will require an electrician to evaluate and repair safely, since electrical issues are so complicated.
If your AC just isn’t running at all, check your breakers. Flip the switches that correlate to your AC on and off, and see if that fixes your problem.
Aging AC System
Like any mechanical system, air conditioners lose efficiency and performance over time due to wear and tear. Most AC units have a lifespan of about ten to 15 years, and as they approach the end of their useful life, they may struggle to maintain the desired temperature in your home.
If your system is beyond repair, it may be time to replace your air conditioner.
Frozen Coils
Frozen coils are another common issue to watch out for. When they freeze, the cool air can’t flow through. That stops your home from cooling down, leaving you feeling overheated during the Edmonton summer months.
This problem isn’t a problem you can fix on your own. If you’ve tried out all the other possible fixes, you’ll want to bring in some help to take a look inside your HVAC system.
Wrong Size Air Conditioner
If you’ve recently purchased a new air conditioning unit, you might want to figure out if you picked the right size for your home. An AC that’s too small for your Edmonton space will struggle to cool down your space, leaving you feeling warm. A unit that’s too big can be inefficient and cause oversized energy bills.
Before you buy an AC, it’s worth it to get a professional assessment so you know what size you should be looking for. But, if you’ve already made the jump, you can still bring them in to take a look and make sure you haven’t made a mistake.
If you do have a newly installed AC, it’s also possible that it was installed incorrectly. That’s especially true if you took a DIY approach to installing your AC.
Check out the parts you can see, and note anything out of the ordinary. These could be clues that your AC needs to be reinstalled by the experts.
AC Running but Not Cooling? Now You Know
There are many reasons for an AC running but not cooling, such as an older system or filter problems. Hopefully, you now have some ideas of what you should be looking out for.
Are you searching for air conditioner service in Edmonton? Look no further. Canadian Climate Control Services offers professional AC services that won’t break the bank.
Contact us today.