Why is My Air Conditioner Not Cooling My Home?

“I own a residential air conditioner, but it’s not working. Why is my air conditioner not cooling my home?”

This is a surprisingly common question. If you’re a homeowner in Colorado, then you know that our summers are incredibly hot and dry. Because of this, many residential air conditioners end up getting damaged from overuse or even environmental factors. So, if you’ve been wondering, why is my air conditioner not cooling my home, then chances are, it’s because of one of the factors that we will be discussing in today’s blog.

If you’re new here, we’re a team of certified HVAC professionals. We’re experts in all things HVAC, and we’re passionate about helping people understand their HVAC units a little bit better. So, if your air conditioner just isn’t performing properly and you’ve been wondering, why is my air conditioner not cooling my home, then you’ve come to the right place for answers!

First, let’s talk about what may be causing your A/C disfunction. Then, we’ll tell you how you can get your air conditioner inspected by a licensed HVAC professional for free.  

So, why is my air conditioner not cooling my home?

Reason #1: Overuse.

It’s easy to forget that our air conditioners weren’t designed to run 24/7, especially during Colorado’s hot, dry summers. But continuous use can lead to serious and even irreparable damages.

Under ideal conditions, your air conditioner should run for about 20 minutes before shutting back off. It should repeat these cycles throughout the day to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. However, some homeowners make the mistake of letting their A/C run continuously throughout the day and even into the night. Continuous A/C use will reduce pressure in the cooling coil until it eventually freezes over. This can cause the liquid refrigerant to flood back to the compressor and severely damage it. This is especially dangerous because the compressor is by far the most expensive part of the unit!

Reason #2: Clogged air ducts or air filters.

It’s important to remember that A/C units are at their core air filtration devices. They are designed to receive and push air continuously. So if any part of the HVAC unit becomes clogged, it won’t be able to properly do its job.

Air conditioners can become clogged in two different places: air filters and ducts.

Most air conditioners have air filters that need to be replaced on a regular basis. Not doing so consistently will lead to clogging. The more clogged your air filter, the harder your air conditioner will have to work, leading to overuse and damages.

If your air conditioner is connected to your home or office’s duct work, then you’ll also need to make sure that you’re cleaning your air ducts on a regular basis. Clogged air ducts cause HVAC units to work harder just to function properly. This can also lead to damages caused by overuse!

Reason #3: It’s an outdated unit.

If you’ve been driving yourself crazy wondering, why is my air conditioner not cooling my home, then chances are, the problem lies just below the surface. Maybe it’s not clogged air ducts or filters. Maybe it’s not because you run your air conditioner all day and all night. Maybe it’s just because the unit is old and it’s time to get a new one!

Air conditioners aren’t designed to last forever. Time leads to wear and tear, and eventually, you’ll either need to get your A/C unit repaired or completely replaced.

Not sure what’s wrong with your air conditioning unit? Call us!

If you’ve been wondering, why is my air conditioner not cooling my home, then chances are, you’ve already ruled out many (if not all) of the reasons we listed above. If this is the case, then don’t worry. We’re here to help! BlueBird Heating and Air is a team of local HVAC experts serving Colorado. Request your free consultation today, and we’ll inspect and diagnose your A/C problems for free!