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If you’ve ever experienced a humid and sticky Maryland summer, the last thing you want is your air conditioning unit blowing hot air and steam around your home.

Though you could look for alternatives without touching the thermostat, it’s easy to find a few culprits (and easy solutions) to this muggy indoor air. Here’s Warner Service’s list of air conditioning problems and solutions to hot air in your home: 

Problem 1: Poor airflow causes a series of air conditioning problems, including debris and dirt circulating throughout your home. This build-up in a clogged air filter leads to reduced cooling as well as allergies and asthma.

Solution 1: Replace your air filter regularly, about once every month. Also, inspect your outdoor unit for grass clippings and other natural debris in the fins, which can be cleaned with a soft brush.

Problem 2: Dusty evaporator coils on your indoor A/C unit interfere with your A/C’s ability to cool your home, which can make the unit blow hot air. 

Solution 2: Clean the air conditioner's interior by following our quick set of instructions:

  • Turn off the A/C unit at the thermostat.
  • Shut off the electricity to the air handler.
  • Remove the evaporator coil access panel with a socket wrench.
  • Blow compressed air over the coils.
  • Clean them with a soft brush (which should be done every 3 to 4 months for maintenance) or use a foam cleanser into the drain pan.

If you don’t feel comfortable attempting any of these DIY methods, contact a local professional.

Problem 3: The power switch is accidentally turned off, or the plug is loose on the outdoor condenser. Even though your indoor fan may continue to run, the system won’t cool the air. 

Solution 3: Plug the unit back in, or turn the switch on again. While you’re at it, if you have a heat pump, check the thermostat settings to ensure that your HVAC system is set to “cool” not “heat” and that the fan switch is on “auto”. 

Problem 4: Your system continues to blow hot air, which means it’s steadily losing its cooling capacity. This (along with damage, deterioration, and/or installation error) causes a serious and toxic refrigerant.

If you have an older air conditioner with this issue, Freon leaks can occur, which leads to complete stoppage of cool air. 

Solution 4: You can check for either type of leak by seeing if there is any ice on your indoor unit’s copper refrigerant lines. If you find ice, contact a professional immediately. They will either recharge or replace your refrigerant.

Problem 5: The evaporator coil is frozen, which blocks cool air from flowing into your home. Instead, the fan motor’s heat blows warm air -- if it’s not also frozen.

Solution 5: This freezing occurs because the unit leaks in 32 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. Solve this air conditioning problem by preventing unit leaks and setting your programmable thermostat between 70 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the short term, you can turn the unit off and let it thaw. Turn it on after about two hours, and if it’s still frozen, call a local HVAC professional.

There’s nothing worse than being outside all day during the summer then stepping into a warm home.

To avoid this common air conditioning problem, you can perform a few maintenance tricks. Replace the air filter once per month, check the programmable thermostat’s settings, and schedule a routine maintenance check for your HVAC unit.

You can also download Warner Service’s HVAC Maintenance Checklist by clicking on the button below:

Download Our HVAC Maintenance Checklist