The high temperatures and humidity in Anderson, SC, mean that you rely on central air conditioning to keep cool during the summer. However, there are times when your AC system can start blowing hot air and end up raising the temperature inside your house. Let’s look at why your AC system may make your house hotter and what you can do to fix the issue.
Frozen Evaporator Coil
If you notice hot air coming out of your vents when your AC system is running, it’s often a result of a frozen evaporator coil. This coil sits within the air handler inside your home. The evaporator coil contains cold refrigerant, which is how your air conditioner absorbs heat and lowers the temperature inside the home.
If the evaporator coil freezes, the AC system won’t be able to absorb any heat until it thaws. This results in your air conditioner circulating hot air throughout the building every time the blower fan runs.
The evaporator coil often freezes because of a dirty air filter or your clogged or obstructed supply and return vents, which restricts how much air comes into the system. If there isn’t enough warm air blowing over the evaporator coil, the refrigerant can remain cold enough for the condensation on it to freeze. After checking your air filter and vents, you should let the coil thaw completely and test to see if the problem goes away.
The evaporator coil can also freeze if it’s dirty. Any dust or debris on the coil insulates it and prevents the refrigerant from properly absorbing heat. In this situation, you’ll need to have an AC repair service technician clean the coil.
Ductwork Issues
Your AC system can also blow hot air because of issues with your ductwork. If your ductwork is leaking or damaged, it can draw hot air back into the supply ducts or let all of the cooled air escape. This can result in the AC system blowing hot air through the house.
Ductwork leaks can also reduce the volume of air flowing through the system. This can cause the evaporator coil to freeze in the same way that a dirty air filter or clogged vents do. In these situations, the solution is to have an HVAC service technician repair or reseal your ductwork.
Low AC System Refrigerant
Your air conditioner requires a specific refrigerant charge to work properly. If there’s a leak in the evaporator coil, condenser coil or refrigerant lines, it’ll eventually prevent the AC system from cooling as it should.
Most commonly this problem will also result in the evaporator coil freezing. It can also simply make it so that the system cannot absorb any heat and thus will circulate hot air. In either case, you’ll need to have a service technician find and repair the leak and recharge your air conditioner with more refrigerant.
Electrical and Motor Problems
The air conditioner’s condenser outside your house can also experience electrical problems that prevent it from working. This is sometimes something as simple as a tripped circuit breaker that shuts off electricity to the unit. It could also be that any of the wire connections inside the unit are loose and need tightening.
Your AC system may also fail to cool because of a faulty or burnt-out condenser fan motor or compressor motor in the outdoor unit. A faulty fan motor will prevent the system from releasing heat, which can cause hot refrigerant to flow to the evaporator coil. When this happens, the fan blows the heat throughout the home and can quickly raise the temperature.
A faulty compressor motor is the most serious AC issue you can have and will prevent the system from even turning on. In this case, AC replacement is typically the best option. It’s possible to replace the compressor motor, but this will typically cost nearly the same amount as installing a brand-new unit.
If your AC system blows hot air or otherwise fails to cool your home, the team at McGee Heating & Air Inc. can inspect it and quickly get it working again. We service any make and model, and our team has years of experience repairing all types of air conditioning issues. If you need AC repair or any other HVAC services, give us a call today.
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