Montgomery, TX in August is a pretty hot and sticky place to be. With an average high of 94.1°F, there are more than 25 days every August that register as officially ‘hot’ each year. It goes without saying that like most Texans, the people of Montgomery value their air conditioners.
There are few things more frustrating than your AC not cooling in the middle of a scorching summer. If that’s happening to you, there are a few things that you can try at home. But there are also some signs that it’s time to call in a local company for AC repair.
Let’s take a closer look at why your AC is not cooling and what you can do about it.
Why Your AC Is Not Cooling
Air Conditioning is relatively complicated and they’ve got a lot of moving parts. They benefit from regular servicing and tune-ups. If you miss some of the regular maintenance jobs, you may find your AC starts blowing hot air instead of cold.
Clogged Filters
If your AC is running but not cooling, first take a look at your filters. Can you remember the last time you washed them or replaced them?
If you look at the filter packet, it will tell you how often you need to replace it. It’s usually every 60 to 90 days. But there are certain situations where you’ll want to replace it more frequently.
Air filters remove allergens from the air, such as dust, pollen, and pet dander. If anyone in your family suffers from allergies, it’s good to change them out every 30 days. Also, if you have indoor pets, they’ll clog up faster and will need replacing more regularly.
Clogged filters mean the motor has to work harder to get the air it needs. This can ultimately cause your AC motor to burn out. Swap out your filters. If the AC unit is not blowing cold air then move on to the next step.
Dodgy Thermostat
Thermostats have two modes – on and auto.
When they’re switched on, they run all the time. With auto mode, the fan only runs when the AC is actively cooling the air. Try adjusting the settings to auto and turn it down to a lower temperature.
If after a few minutes the AC is not cooling your house, you’ve probably got another issue. But if your thermostat runs on batteries, it’s a good idea to switch them out and see if that makes a difference.
Clogged Condenser
Outside your house, there will be a condenser unit. This should be winterized to keep pests and dirt away as much as possible. But even after taking precautions, it’s still possible for the condenser to get clogged with dirt.
The condenser is vital for cooling the refrigerant back to a liquid so that it can go back inside and start cooling your home again. This is why, if your condenser gets clogged, you’ll find your AC is running but not cooling.
The condenser coils have a set of fins that can easily get clogged with garden debris. This is not a time for the pressure washer. They need a gentle clean with soapy water, before rinsing with a low-pressure hose.
The condenser unit is a vital and expensive piece of equipment. If you don’t feel confident tackling the cleaning yourself, get an AC company to give it a thorough clean.
Refrigerant Leak
Your home AC is a closed system, meaning that theoretically, you should never experience a refrigerant leak. But over time, refrigerant lines can get damaged and refrigerant can start to leak out.
You may hear a hissing sound when your AC is running. And of course, you’ll notice that your AC is not blowing cold air. As soon as you notice the signs, you need to shut down your AC and call AC repair services.
If you don’t call in the cavalry, bad things can happen to your HVAC system. Your compressor could get damaged or even fail. That would cause the entire AC to stop working and would be an expensive repair.
Damaged Ductwork
The ductwork system is like the lungs of your AC, taking the cooled air where it needs to go. The problem is if it’s damaged, the cooled air will never make it to your vents. Instead, it’ll escape into the ether and you’ll be throwing money away.
Rips and tears in ductwork are sometimes obvious. The joints are notorious weak points. You may be able to carry out a temporary repair with, you guess it, duct tape.
But if you can’t see any issues and you’ve ruled out other problems, then call an AC repair company. They have the equipment, skills, and experience to track down hidden leaks and make the necessary repairs.
Wrong Size of AC
If you’ve moved into a new house, it’s possible that the last owner did not purchase the correct size of AC. If the AC is too small, it will struggle to cool the house to the correct temperature. It’ll also put a huge strain on the motor and make it more likely to fail prematurely.
Calculating the size can be tricky. An AC installation company can help. They’ll look at the size of your home, insulation, and local climate to work out the correct unit.
If your AC is too small, you may need to look at installing a bigger unit. Alternatively, you could look at adding ductless units to give it a hand.
AC Not Cooling? Call Luxury Air A/C & Heating
If your AC is not cooling, work your way through our guide to try to figure out the problem. Some are easy fixes. But for some of the more technical issues, you’ll need an AC repair company to give you a helping hand.
At Luxury Air A/C & Heating, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding customer service to the people of Montgomery County, TX. We service all makes and models and always provide free, no-obligation estimates.
Why not contact us for an AC repair estimate? Call us at (936) 703-2130 or reach out online today!