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What to Do When Your Air Conditioning Unit is Running, But Not Cooling

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You turn on your AC and expect it to work, which is likely the case if you maintain it well, but what if it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to? The following guide will help you figure out what to do if your AC is running but isn’t cooling your home.

If you don’t want to read the full article and still your ac isn’t cooling, check out Dale City Air Conditioning to get an instant solution.

Quick Fixes

Okay, so you’ve turned on your air conditioning and it’s not cooling your home as it normally would. It’s easy to start imagining the worst, but do not despair just yet. There are a few things that could be wrong that won’t require much to get your AC working again.

One reason your home isn’t getting as cool as it should because someone is letting the air out. Maybe someone left a few windows open or maybe someone left a door open somewhere. Try to go around your house to find out if this is the problem. It could be that the supply or the return vents are obstructed somehow.

You might want to see if your thermostat is set to cool because someone in your house could have messed with it. Those with a humidifier want to make sure those are off because they’ll make it difficult for your AC to cool your place properly.

Dealing With the Filter

Okay, if the problem wasn’t solved with the previous suggestions, then it might be time to take a look at your filter. An air conditioning system has a filter that’s meant to ensure the air quality in your house remains healthy. These are meant to work for some time but do expire.

Once the filter gets too dirty, it could start making your AC work harder than it needs to. The filter is usually in the air handler cabinet. All you have to do is go ahead and open the small door, and you should be able to get it. Check the condition of the filter. If it looks dirty or damaged, then it’s time to replace it.

If you have a washable filter, all you have to do is clean it and place it back. Washable filters should last as long as your AC unit lasts, which is a good reason to invest in one of these. Once you are done, all you have to do is close the door and turn your AC on. Your AC’s cooling power should come back.

Addressing the Interior

Okay, so you tried to install a clean filter, but that didn’t do anything. The next thing you may want to consider trying is cleaning your AC’s interior. Make sure your AC is completely off before you try to clean the interior of your AC. You’ll want to start with your condenser.

Look through your manual to find out how you can access your condenser and clean this part. If that isn’t your problem, then it could be the evaporator. Do the same thing to access this part of your AC and clean it up. Try to pay attention to any clogs that could be making it harder for your AC to cool you down.

If you ignore this, it could become a bigger problem given enough time. You could end up with an overheated compressor or a damaged compressor. All of these issues could end up costing you an arm and a leg, but you may be able to avoid that by simply cleaning these areas or having an AC specialist help you deal with it.

Could be a Ductwork Problem

The problem could be a little deeper than some of the issues mentioned earlier. Your air conditioner’s ductwork is pretty important because it helps deliver cooled air throughout your entire home yet is sometimes overlooked. Usually, your AC’s ductwork gives you no problems, but every so often it becomes damaged.

Maybe it developed a crack somewhere, or there could be broken seals. These imperfections are sometimes pretty small, so finding them can take some time. Usually, these imperfections take some time to develop before the problem becomes big enough for you to take notice.

The good thing is you don’t have to do all the searching on your own. You can have your AC specialist deal with this and repair it. Like many other issues, this one could be prevented if you make sure your air conditioning system is inspected regularly. The sooner you find issues like these, the less you’ll have to spend repairing anything.

Refrigerant Leaks Could be the Issue

Any good AC specialist like Sovpsl is going to tell you that your AC’s refrigerant is the heart of your device. If something goes wrong with your refrigerant, then your entire system won’t work the way it’s supposed to. Refrigerant is an effective substance that does wonders.

It can suck up indoor heat, which your machine helps push outdoors to keep your home as cool as you want it to be. For the most part, this part of your AC lasts for a very long time, especially if you have your AC specialist maintain it from time to time. Still, your refrigerant isn’t invincible and could develop some problems like leaks.

If you start to develop too many leaks, then your AC won’t be able to cool your home as good as it once did. This could be the reason you’re dealing with this problem. You won’t be able to do anything about this on your own unless you’ve got some experience and feel comfortable enough. To be safe, you’ll have to talk to a professional to have the issue solved.

These are just some issues that could be causing the problem that you’re dealing with, but there are many others. The issue could boil down to an electrical problem, and if that’s the case, you’ll need to talk to an electrician as well. To be safe, just schedule an appointment with a specialist to see what can be done to cool your home once again.

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Emma Drew

Emma has spent over 15 years sharing her expertise in making and saving money, inspiring thousands to take control of their finances. After paying off £15,000 in credit card debt, she turned her side hustles into a full-time career in 2015. Her award-winning blog, recognized as the UK's best money-making blog for three years, has made her a trusted voice, with features on BBC TV, BBC radio, and more.

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