An air conditioning unit working in optimal condition is no longer a luxury, but a necessity to ensure your family’s year-round comfort. That’s why the global HVAC market is expected to grow to $367.5 billion by 2030.

With regular servicing, your AC system is likely to work efficiently throughout the year. But what if your AC is blowing hot air?

First of all – don’t get annoyed. There could be many reasons why your AC is blowing hot air.

While the best approach is to call an HVAC professional, you can also check your air conditioner for common issues that can be causing the warm air issue.

6 Common Causes Behind an AC Blowing Hot Air (& Their Fixes)

If your AC is blowing hot air, it could be because of thermostat issues, electrical issues, or a dirty air filter.

1. Dirty Air Filters

When the air filter of your indoor or outdoor AC unit is dirty or clogged, the unit may fail to rotate air through the system. This may cause it to blow warm air.

You can clean it or get it replaced by a clean, new air filter to make your air conditioner function properly.

We recommend that you sign up for regular HVAC maintenance to ensure your family’s comfort all year round and save money by preventing the need for emergency repairs.

AC blowing Warm Air
Image via Bradshaw Heating and Air conditioning

2. Thermostat Setting Errors

One of the most common causes of the air conditioner blowing warm air issue is incorrect thermostat settings. It will only take you a few minutes to double-check the thermostat settings and ensure that:

    • It is set on “Cool” mode. You’ll be surprised to see how often it isn’t on “Cool.”
    • The fan is set on “Auto,” not “On.” This will ensure that the fan only rotates during a cooling cycle, which results in blowing cold air into your home.

3. Evaporator Coil Issues

Sometimes, a frozen evaporator coil can also cause your AC to blow hot air.

When heat is not absorbed into the coil for a while, it freezes. This could happen if the airflow is restricted due to things like:

    • Dirty air filter
    • Deteriorated air ducts
    • Dirty evaporator coil

The best way to prevent this issue is to keep your air conditioner clean and in optimal working condition with regular HVAC service.

4. Refrigerant Leak

Low refrigerant levels can cause the chemical in the coil to expand and make the coil freeze, which could lead to your AC blowing hot air.

In case of refrigerant leaks, you should not try to fix them yourself. Call an HVAC technician like ours to find the leaking spot, fix it, and refill it to maintain the correct refrigerant levels.

5. Condenser Unit Issues

A dirty condenser coil can also cause warm air issues as it will prevent hot air from blowing outside the house.

If you don’t want your AC to blow warm air, you should keep your condenser unit clean and properly spaced. There should be enough breathing space around it (at least 2 ft.) to ensure proper air ventilation and cooling.

ac blowing warm air
Image via Bradshaw Heating and Air conditioning

6. AC Compressor Issues

A compressor is the heart of an air conditioning system. It circulates the refrigerant around your system and transforms low-pressure gas into high-pressure gas.

Some of the most common AC compressor issues that can affect your AC’s cooling efficiency are:

    • A faulty compressor
    • Rusted or worn out parts
    • Aged compressor consuming more energy
    • Tripped circuit breaker due to aged compressor with damaged wiring

It might be difficult for a layman to assess and identify compressor issues. The best practice is to call an HVAC technician to check and repair your AC unit.

Ready to Fix Your Air Conditioner Problems and Prevent Future Issues?

These are the most common causes of an AC blowing warm air and we have also suggested ways to fix them.

However, checking your air conditioners for so many issues could be annoying. And, in many cases, you might not be able to fix them too.

So, what should you do?

Reach out to professionals like us to get your air conditioning system checked and serviced.

We, at Bradshaw Heating and Air Conditioning, have 34 years of experience installing, repairing, and servicing AC units. You just need to call us at (530) 903-6061.