The main reason you bought your air conditioner in the first place was to enjoy a much cooler living environment, so it can be a problem when your air conditioner starts blowing out hot air, especially if you’re living in hotter environments where the temperature can become unbearable. This can happen for a wide variety of reasons, and fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to resolve the issue yourself.
Why is My Air Conditioner Blowing Hot Air?
There are a few reasons why your air conditioner may be blowing out hot air. Here are some of the more common ones:
Clogged Air Filters
The air filter is in charge of removing impurities and contaminants from the air to ensure that only clean air is released. However, when uncleaned for long periods of time, the air filter can become clogged with dust, dirt, and debris, compromising the airflow within your AC unit and negatively affecting its overall cooling performance.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant is a very crucial substance when it comes to the cooling capabilities of your air conditioner. It absorbs humidity and heat from the air and allows cooled air to infiltrate your living space. Low refrigerant levels mean that your air conditioner will be unable to cool down the air that goes into the unit, resulting in warm air being blown out. Aside from insufficient cooling, this may also cause your unit to turn off as a way to prevent overheating.
Thermostat Settings
When your air conditioner is blowing out hot air, the issue could be as simple as the wrong thermostat settings. Your thermostat allows you to control the settings, temperature, and operation of your air conditioner, and setting it at too high a temperature could cause warm air. Other than that, your thermostat may also not be set to its cooling settings or modes.
Frozen or Dirty Coils
Whether covered in ice or dirt and debris, blocked evaporator coils can impede your air conditioner’s performance and efficiency. Evaporator coils are crucial components in the overall cooling process of your unit, and any blockages will result in reduced effectiveness. The air won’t be able to properly flow through your unit, so it won’t be cooled down as it should.
Blocked Outside Unit
Some air conditioners come with an outside unit that will naturally be placed outdoors. However, when enough buildup and debris start blocking the airflow, it can cause some issues. Things like dust, dirt, leaves, branches, and foliage in general can stick to the outdoor unit and prevent air from flowing easily. Not only will this push your air conditioner to work harder, resulting in higher electricity bills, but it’ll also mess with your cooling comfort.
Malfunctioning Compressor
The compressor plays a significant role in the operation of your air conditioner, compressing the refrigerant and maintaining the optimal temperature for the evaporator coil. Any issues or malfunctioning with the compressor will mean that the hot air isn’t being let out of your unit. When this happens, the evaporator coil won’t be cold enough to perform properly, resulting in less desirable results.
Clogged Drain Line
The drain line is responsible for releasing the condensation that your air conditioner naturally produces during the cooling process, but certain issues may arise when this line is clogged, resulting in your unit’s poor cooling performance. When the drain line gets clogged, the moisture has nowhere to go, which means that it will stay inside your air conditioner and lead to more inefficient cooling.
How to Fix an Air Conditioner That’s Blowing Hot Air?
The first step to fixing your air conditioner is to find the source of the issue. Then, you can take the following measures to resolve the problem:
Clean Your Air Filter
Check your air filter regularly and clean it at least once a month. You can do this by removing it from your unit and soaking it in soapy water. Once all the debris has been softened and loosened up, use a sponge or scrub brush to remove all the lingering bits before letting your filter air dry.
Check Your Thermostat
Take a look at your thermostat and make sure that it’s set to a low temperature and cooling mode.
Clean Your Evaporator Coils
Here’s how you can clean your air conditioner’s evaporator coils:
- Turn off your air conditioner and leave it for a few hours to let any potential ice fully thaw.
- Remove the access panel of your unit and locate the evaporator coils.
- Use a soft brush to remove any loose dirt and debris, making sure not to damage anything.
- Use a commercial coil cleaner or combine equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
- Apply the solution to the coils and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before using a soft brush to gently brush away any debris.
- Finally, let the coil air dry completely.
Clean Your Outdoor Unit
Regularly check on your outdoor unit and remove any obstructions you can find. You can also hose it down to wash away any dirt or dust.
Unclog Your Drain Line
If you’ve noticed a significant amount of dirt and debris clogging your drain line, follow these steps to clean it properly:
- After powering down your air conditioner and locating the drain line, use a vacuum cleaner to remove anything that may be clogging it up.
- If needed, you can also use a garden hose to flush out your drain line or use a pipe brush or flexible brush.
- You can either pour white vinegar or equal parts warm water and bleach into your drain line to clean it out, leaving this for around 30 minutes to dissolve any buildup inside.
- End your cleaning by rinsing it out with water.
Have Your Unit Professionally Checked
There are some issues with your air conditioner that you may not be able to handle yourself, such as issues with your refrigerant and compressor. In that case, it’s best to book an air conditioner cleaning and maintenance service and let professional HVAC technicians take a look at your unit. They’ll be able to easily identify and repair the issue so that you can go back to your cooling.
The Takeaway
It can be really stressful when your air conditioner isn’t working properly and blowing out hot air rather than cold air, but there’s no need to worry. Once you identify the cause of the issue, it’ll be much easier to fix the problem and resume your cooling experience, especially when you follow these simple and easy solutions.
