My air conditioner is blowing warm air. What's wrong?
It's 95 degrees outside and my AC just started blowing warm air. I checked the thermostat and it's set to 68. The fan works but the air isn't cold. I changed the filter last month. Should I call an HVAC guy or is there something I can check myself?
1 Answer(s)
Before you call an HVAC guy (which will cost $150-300 just to show up), check these 4 things first. First, check your outdoor unit. Is it running? Go outside and look at the big AC unit. If the fan isn't spinning, the capacitor might be bad — that's a $20 part you can replace yourself with a YouTube tutorial. If the compressor isn't running at all, that's a bigger issue.
Second, check your thermostat batteries. Sounds dumb, but dead batteries cause weird behavior. Replace them with fresh AAs.
Third, check if your condenser coils are dirty. If they're covered in dirt, leaves, or debris, the unit can't release heat. Turn off the unit, spray the coils gently with a garden hose (not a pressure washer — you'll bend the fins), and let it dry.
Fourth, check if the refrigerant is low. You'll know because you'll see ice forming on the copper lines going into your house. If you see ice, turn the unit off immediately — running it like this can destroy the compressor. That's when you definitely call a pro.
Most of the time it's the outdoor unit or dirty coils. Check those first and you might save $200.