Reasons Why an Air Conditioner Stops Cooling
When an air conditioner stops cooling on a hot day, the results are felt by everyone inside within a few minutes. As the sweat beads begin to form on your brow, you'll begin to realize you need to find the cause very quickly so you can make yourself and your family comfortable again. A few different reasons exist as to why an air conditioner stops cooling. The problems range from very simple things that you can fix by yourself in a moment to others that may require the help of a professional HVAC technician. Does this Spark an idea?
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Thermostat Set Wrong
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One of the most common reasons your air conditioner stops cooling is an incorrect setting on the thermostat. The temperature setting must be lower than the actual room temperature for the unit to come on. Also, there are switches typically located on the thermostat to turn the system on or off. If the switch is in the "Off" position, it will not run. If the system is running but not cooling, the switch that indicates "heat," "cool" and "fan" may be set incorrectly. "Heat" will cause the system to blow warm air, and the "fan" setting will allow the fan to blow air through the registers but will not cool it. See that it is set to the cooling option.
Power Disconnected
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The power to your air conditioning system could be disconnected. A power failure should be obvious, but it is one possibility. Check your circuit breakers to ensure that the switch is in the "On" position. Air handlers on the inside of the home often have a power shutoff on the system itself. Consult your owner's manual, or simply look around the blower area to see if there is a switch that has been turned off.
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Outside Compressor Problems
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If the compressor on a central air conditioner's outside unit is malfunctioning, it can prevent cooling. The outside service switch could be turned off, which would prevent the compressor from running. This switch is generally located on the wall of the house closest to the unit. If the air intake to the condenser coil is blocked by leaves or tree limbs, it could cause compressor malfunction or shutdown from overheating.
Blocked Filters
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Inspect the air filters on the inside air intake of your air conditioning system. A filter blocked by excessive dust or debris could cause a lack of cooling by your system. These filters are fairly easy to replace and are inexpensive at most stores that sell home supplies.
Dirty Outside Unit
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The outside unit of a central air system can get quite dirty after years of use; clean it each year prior to the first use. Disconnect power to the air conditioner, remove the protective grilles and use a wire brush to remove built-up dirt and debris from the compressor and fan. Cover the wires with plastic, and use a hose to spray it clean before reassembling it, which will allow for maximum cooling by your air conditioner.
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