When your air conditioner appears to be running but not cooling your home, you may wonder what is wrong with it. When an air conditioner is running but not cooling the home there can be a number of different causes and resulting problems. Depending on the problem, some corrections are simple and don’t require a technician where others are more complicated and require professional assistance. Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning will help walk you through the basics and see if you can restore your cooling system yourself and when you’ll want to contact a professional.

Check Thermostat Temperature Settings

Before you get too worked up, the first step is to double check your thermostat. Make sure the temperature has been correctly set, and that the thermostat is on the “Cool” and “Auto” setting and not the “run” or “heating.” Sometimes the thermostat settings get touched or played with and that may be why your air conditioner isn’t running as you expect it should.

Change or Clean Dirty Air Filters

If your air conditioner is having a hard time cooling your home, check the air filters. A dirty air filter restricts the air flow which slows down progress. You want the air conditioning system to easily remove the warm air from inside the home. If the air filters are dirty, the air conditioner cannot suck up the warm air which will keep the home feeling warm. Make sure to check the air filters if your air conditioner appears to be running but not cooling your home effectively.

Clean Coils & Clear a Dirty AC Condenser Unit

If you have a split air conditioning system and your air conditioner isn’t cooling there may be dirt or debris around the outdoor unit. If there is grass, weeds, or other debris around the outdoor unit, it can reduce air flow. The condenser is the unit that brings your home the needed cool air. If air cannot flow through the condenser unit, you will not have cool air inside your home. Make sure there is at least one to two feet of open space around the unit to ensure proper air flow. You can also call an AC contractor to clean dirty condenser coils.

Call an AC Contractor to Find & Fix a Refrigerant Leak

If the air conditioning system is running but not cooling, this could be a sign that you have a refrigerant leak. Without refrigerant you will not have cool air. Refrigerant leaks can occur and when they do, your air conditioner will fail to make cool air. The refrigerant leak will need to be located, repaired and the refrigerant recharged. Once the leak is repaired, the refrigerant will need to be refilled by a professional HVAC technician.

Hire a Professional AC Technician to Diagnose & Repair Mechanical Problems

There may be a mechanical problem. When the air conditioner fails to cool down your home, the fan motor or the compressor may be failing. Often these components wear down and may require replacement. Again only have a professional perform major repairs so as to ensure that the repairs are done correctly.

Central Air Conditioning Maintenance, Repairs, Replacement, Emergency Repairs & More in Springfield, Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Monson, Chicopee & Agawam, Massachusetts

There can be a number of different problems that can cause an air conditioner to fail to cool down a home or building. When you experience air conditioning problems, contact Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning to diagnose and repair them without delay.