East Texas is a region that gets not only hot temperatures in the summer months, often for days on end. In addition, the weather is also usually humid, along with the heat.
The combination of heat and humidity can make your home even hotter during the summer season… meaning your AC will most likely be on all hours of the day and night in order to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
This is especially true if you have babies or elderly people living in your home, high temperatures can be dangerous for the elderly, young children, and people with health issues. Your air conditioning working properly is about more than just a comfortable atmosphere in your home, it’s also about the safety of your household members.
Regular HVAC Maintenance Is Key
To keep your air conditioner consistently working properly, it’s important to have regular HVAC system maintenance performed by a licensed and trusted local AC and heating company like East Texas Refrigeration.
It can sometimes be hard to remember to schedule regular checks, so if your Texas AC repair company offers a professional HVAC maintenance program, it can save you time and effort if you’re signed up.
The Importance of a Trusted HVAC Technician
Having a trusted local HVAC repair business like ETR on call can make all the difference if you need air conditioner repair, heater repair, an AC system check, a new air conditioner filter, the ductwork cleaned, a carbon monoxide inspection, or other HVAC maintenance… such as if your air conditioner starts blowing hot air.
What to Check First if Your AC Is Blowing Warm Air
Have you ever had the experience where your air conditioner suddenly stops blowing cool air and blows warm air into your home?
Especially if it happens in the hot summer months, you’ll notice the change in temperature quickly.
There are several reasons why your AC might suddenly go from cooling to warming your house. Troubleshooting what might be happening can be helpful when you call your local HVAC technician.
Start With the Thermostat
Make sure that someone wasn’t messing with the thermostat. Often your uncomfortably warm situation can be fixed by simply readjusting a thermostat that someone messed with.
Once you’ve ascertained that your thermostat is set on the “cool” setting it needs to be on, it’s time to check your outdoor unit.
Check for Ice on your AC System
Inspect your system for the appearance of ice, including on the refrigerant lines, coils, or outdoor unit. Ice buildup is a sign that something isn’t working properly and can lead to further damage if it is not addressed quickly.
If you see any ice forming anywhere on your system, turn the system off right away and contact a licensed contractor such as ETR. Your system needs immediate professional attention to prevent further issues.
Inspect Your Outdoor Unit
When you go outside to your unit, do you hear it running properly? Is there power to the system?
While you’re out there, check around your outdoor HVAC system and make sure it isn’t blocked by anything such as bushes, leaves, branches, yard furniture, weeds, etc.
If the condenser is blocked, it won’t release heat properly, which means the unit won’t be able to cool your home as it should.
Check the Air Filter
When was the last time you checked or changed your air filter?
A dirty, clogged air filter can be the root cause of many HVAC system issues, and it’s important that the filter gets checked and changed regularly (another good reason to be part of an HVAC maintenance program).
In East Texas, it’s normal to have the AC on both during the day and at night. This also means your filter will get dirtier more quickly because you’re running the unit more often.
While 90 days is generally the amount of time recommended between changes, if you’re using your AC more often, you’ll probably need to change the filter more often, too.
Why a Dirty Filter Causes Warm Air
A dirty filter can cause your air conditioner system to blow warm air because when the filter is clogged, it blocks airflow from passing through your HVAC system in the way it’s designed to.
Because of the blockage, your unit has to put in added effort to pass air through the system’s components, causing it to get warm.
This lack of air also impacts the evaporator coil, which is what holds the refrigerant that helps cool your home.
Without airflow, the unit could overheat, and this would cause your evaporator coil to freeze up and ice over. At this point, your whole unit is in danger, as now the compressor is at risk of overheating, which could ruin the unit and mean you need a new air conditioner.
How to Stay on Top of Filter Maintenance
If you’re comfortable changing your AC’s air filter yourself, it’s important you check and change it regularly in the summer months (more often than the recommended 90 days) to make sure it isn’t getting clogged.
If you’re not comfortable checking and changing the air filter yourself, it’s important to have a professional HVAC technician do it for you.
Once you’ve completed any troubleshooting you’re able to do on your own to help determine why your air conditioner is blowing warm air, it’s time to call in a professional HVAC maintenance company for an inspection.
