Maybe it’s happened to you before: You’re sitting in your cool and comfortable home when you notice that the temperature slowly begins to increase. Next, you feel your AC blowing out hot air from the air-supply vents, which is the reason why it’s heating up inside your Eastern North Carolina home. From simple troubleshooting to complex repairs handled by your HVAC technician, read on to see what may be the problem with your AC unit.

An Incorrect Thermostat Setting

The first place to check when you find your AC blowing out hot air is the thermostat. Make sure the thermostat is set to “Cool” and “Auto” modes. If the thermostat is set to “On” rather than “Auto,” warm air may blow out the air vents when the AC isn’t cooling. Make sure the temperature setting is where you would like it to be; the recommendation is somewhere between 74 and 78 degrees.

Ice Buildup on the Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is the device in your AC unit that chills the warm return air. As warm return air is pulled across the coil by the blower, heat transfers from the warm return air to the refrigerant inside the evaporator. Moisture in the warm air condenses on the surface of the cold evaporator, and then condensation forms.

If there isn’t enough airflow or if refrigerant levels are too low, the condensation on the evaporator will freeze and soon form a solid block of ice. When this happens, return air will no longer be chilled and your AC will blow out hot air.

A Faulty Compressor

The compressor is the component that prepares refrigerant to release heat energy to outdoor air. As refrigerant vapor flows into the compressor, the vapor is compressed into a liquid state. When the compressor is going bad, it won’t perform its job efficiently. This impacts the ability of the indoor evaporator to chill return air. So, your AC blowing out hot air is a sign that the compressor needs to be serviced.

If the AC blowing out hot air is a problem in your home, contact Jackson & Sons today.