South Florida summers call for nonstop use of our central air conditioning systems. Without a reliable AC, it’s impossible to find relief from skyrocketing temperatures. Without relief, our quality of life quickly begins to deteriorate. As the most trusted HVAC company throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County, the AC experts at Local AC run into the same questions from customers time and time again. If you’re experiencing warm or hot air coming from your AC vents, here’s everything you need to know.
Why Are My AC Vents Blowing Warm / Hot Air?
Few things are worse than walking the house from a sweltering, humid day to realize your air conditioning system isn’t working like it should be. Unfortunately, warm or hot air blowing from your AC vents is a common occurrence, and could be the result of a few different scenarios. Here are the common culprits and how to address each one.
Common Causes of Your AC Blowing Warm Air
1. Your thermostat is turned to heat mode.
This may seem obvious, but many times homeowners have accidentally adjusted their thermostat so it is set to heat mode. Before checking anything else, make sure this isn’t the case. If it is in fact set to cool and you still feel warm air being delivered to your home through your vents, you’ll want to keep reading as the issue is probably due to one of the following.
2. Your evaporator coil is dirty due to a dirty air filter.
We can’t stress enough the importance of routinely replacing or cleaning your air conditioner’s air filters. Not only do clean filters ensure the quality of your indoor air and save you money by helping your AC system operate as efficiently as possible, they also prevent the headache of unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs.
A dirty air filter can ultimately cause your evaporator coils to become dirty as well. Ultimately, this will impact the efficiency and operation of your entire system, and cause warm or hot air to come through your vents rather than cool air. You’ll need to call a professional AC technician to come clean your evaporator coils and inspect any other areas that may need attention.
3. Your system is low on refrigerant.
The culprit of warm air coming from your AC is almost always low refrigerant levels. Here are indicators that your system is in need of refrigerants:
- You’re experiencing warm air flowing through your AC ventilation.
- Your house is cooling extremely slow.
- You notice ice building up on your refrigerant line.
Certain refrigerants, like Freon, are extremely dangerous and should only be handled by an experienced professional. While modern AC systems don’t use Freon to cool your home, most forms today can still cause health issues if handled by an inexperienced individual. You’ll want to call your AC company to have them inspect your refrigerant and adjust the levels accordingly.
4. Your outdoor compressor unit is obstructed.
If your AC is blowing warm air, the problem can be as simple as something obstructing or blocking your outdoor compressor unit. You should never stack things on top of the unit. If the fan is located on top of the outdoor unit, it’s crucial to remember not to block airflow. In addition, any debris such as branches, cut grass or shrubs shouldn’t block your coil or unit. This can drastically reduce the efficiency of your overall system. You should leave at least 18 inches of free space for your unit to breathe.
Call Local AC for South Florida AC Repair
If you’re experiencing the discomfort of a malfunctioning AC and a hot house, don’t wait. Reliable cooling relief is only a phone call away. For the past 20 years, Local AC has proudly served residents across South Florida with a variety of HVAC jobs–from emergency AC repairs to system replacement and routine maintenance.
Call us today at (844) 888-0938 , or visit us online to schedule your appointment today. We’re here to keep you cool!
