In Queensland we all rely on our air conditioner to provide cool air to live, sleep and work comfortably. There are a few reasons your air conditioning system may stop blowing cold air.
What are the most common causes of air conditioning not blowing cold air?
There are many common problems that can cause your air conditioner to stop blowing cold air – to work efficiently and effectively your air conditioner needs to be able to move air freely through the machine and around the room.
In many cases – not all – we find that a simple service is all that is needed to get the air conditioner back to factory specs and blowing cool air again, reducing the risk of further damage.
Below is a list of the common problems we commonly find whilst carrying out service or break down calls.
Blocked air filter
Return air filters are an important part of any air conditioning unit and responsible for catching all the dirt and debris before it reaches the indoor cooling coils.
Clogged filters are a common problem and can drastically reduce the air flow causing many problems – In most cases the filters can be easily cleaned by the owner in just a few minutes.
Our tip: open the cover to you air conditioner to see if the filter is blocked and if necessary clean under a tap.
Blocked condenser coil
The condenser coil is part of the out door unit and just like the indoor unit needs to have free air movement across it to remove heat from the refrigerant. This hot air is released to outside, allowing the cooled refrigerant back to the indoor unit
Cleaning condenser coils should be part of a professional service and important to keep the machine running efficiently.
Our tip: inspect your outdoor coil and if it looks dirty give it a clean with a hose.
Low refrigerant levels
All air conditioners use refrigerant to cool the room and its essential to maintain the correct levels to keep your air con running properly. Low refrigerant levels means you will not get sufficiently cold air.
If the refrigerant level is too low then the Indoor coil could become covered in ice restricting air flow and preventing effective cooling.
Checking refrigerant levels should be part of a professional service and important to keep the machine running efficiently.
Our tip: if your air conditioner is running and cooling – and if you have checked filters and coils – then a low refrigerant charge may be your problem. To resolve this you will need a qualified technician.
Dirty evaporator coils
The evaporator coil is responsible for cooling the room and needs good airflow across it to do this effectively – if the filters are not kept clean then dirt and debris can be ‘pulled’ on to the evaporator coil reducing air flow.
Damaged or clogged filters are a common cause but if the coil is contaminated with dirt and debris this will need removing with specialist coil flushing equipment and detergents.
Low pressure coil cleans wash the coils, can be carried out at the same time as a professional service and are important to keep the machine running efficiently.
Our tip: after you have removed the filters for cleaning inspect the indoor coil. If this is dirty – then you will need a deep clean.
Frozen evaporator coil
When an evaporator coil freezes this can be another sign of poor airflow, blocked filters or perhaps low refrigerant levels, quite often you won’t see anything but in extreme cases the covers (wall hung split) can have condensation on them or even have ice visible.
Checking refrigerant levels, filters and coils should all be part of a professional service and important to keep the machine running efficiently.
Our tip: if your air conditioner is still blowing cold air, but it is leaking down the wall, then this may be an indication of a frozen coil.
Electrical issues
Your air conditioning system has many electrical components inside that govern how it runs. If these electrical components have failed or are not communicating correctly with each other then the air conditìoner may not run properly.
Our tip: if you air conditioner has a series of flashing lights on its display panel – then this is normally an indication of a problem with your air conditioner.
Faulty compressor
Your air conditioning unit uses a compressor to pump refrigerant around the system to be able to cool effectively. If the compressor isn’t working properly the air conditioner will not be able to blow cold air.
Regular professional service can help identify these problems early reducing troublesome breakdowns when you need your air conditioner most.
Our tip: if your circuit breaker on the circuit on which your air conditioner is trips, this is an indication of a failed compressor.
Refrigerant leak
All ac units use refrigerant to cool the room and its essential to maintain the correct levels to keep your air con running properly.
If the refrigerant leaks this will stop the unity cooling if you suspect this you should call for service straight away
A professional service can help identify leaks or low refrigerant levels. Regular service is important to keep the machine running efficiently.
Our tip: if your ac unit starts, blows ambient air and then stops – this is a good indication of a refrigerant leak.
Controller setting issues
The controller determines how the air conditioner operates so its important that its set to the correct mode and temperature to effectively cool the room.
Check the controller has fresh batteries and is set correctly. In particular pay attention to the mode and temperature setting – if either of these are wrong – your air con will not be cooling properly.
A professional service will check through all the controls and highlight any issues. Regular service is important to keep the machine running efficiently.
Our tip: make sure when you change from winter to summer you change the mode on your air conditioner controller from heating to cooling.
Fan Motor problems
To work efficiently and effectively your air conditioner needs to be able to move air freely through the machine and around the room.
If the fan motor is not operating there will be no air movement preventing the unit from operating. If the fan motor is turning then it might be clogged and need service.
Regular professional service can help identify these problems early reducing troublesome breakdowns.
Our tip: If your air conditioner is not blowing air or less air than it used – you may have eithre a clogged fan or a fan with a motor problem.
Troubleshooting steps you can try – if your air con not blowing cold air
Check 1: Power
Does your ac unit turn on? If not:
- Check that the isolator is switched on
- Check that the circuit breaker is in the on position – a tripped breaker means your air conditioner will not run
Check 2: Remote Control
- Check the batteries are fresh and the display is clear
- Check that the controller is set to your desired temperature – remember that the set temp must be lower than the room temperature for it to cool.
- Check that the controller is set to the mode you need.
Check 3: Filters
Are your filters clean
- Check the filters are fitted correctly and clean if necessary
Can a lack of air conditioning maintenance cause my air conditioner to stop blowing cold air?
Regular professional service / maintenance is cheap insurance to keep your air conditioning unit running effectively and efficiently for many years.
Missing out on maintenance is a false economy and can lead to inconvenient breakdowns and expensive repairs and may even cause premature failure requiring complete replacement
How often should I have my air conditioner serviced to prevent warm air?
There can be no substitute for regular professional service and maintenance, for domestic split systems most manufacturers recommend that the homeowner check the filters every few months (and more often if they are extremely dirty when you check them) and we would recommend a professional service prior to each season on top of that.
Regular professional service / maintenance can keep your air conditioner running effectively and efficiently, help to identify any issues and minimise any unwanted breakdowns, keeping it running when you need it the most.
Will I need to replace my air conditioner if it is blowing warm air?
There are many factors that will influence this decision, such as the cost of repairs, the age and general overall condition of the machine.
The only way to really be able to make that decision is to have the air conditioning system inspected to asses the cause.
Regular professional service / maintenance can also give you prior notice that your AC may be reaching the end of its economical working life.
Most air conditioners with problems are repairable. But you may choose to repair rather than replace your air conditioner. The factors we take into account when making that decision are:
- Age of the air conditioner
- General condition of the air conditioner
- Size / cost to replace vs repair – larger systems are typically more expensive to replace – so repairs are more common
Get a free quote on air conditioning repairs in Brisbane
If your air conditioner still isn’t blowing cold air, get in touch with our expert team of air conditioning repair technicians to get your unit working properly again. Get an obligation free quote from on air conditioning repairs in Brisbane here.
Learn more about common issues people have with air conditioners
Having trouble with your air conditioning and can’t quite figure out what the problem is? There could be a few reasons why it’s not working as well as it used to, and in our experience, these are the most common culprits:
- Air conditioner unit is frozen or icing up
- Air conditioner unit is leaking water
- Air conditioner heat mode is not working
- Air conditioner isn’t turning on
- Air conditioner is making loud buzzing noises
- Ducted air conditioner isn’t working in all rooms
- Air conditioner smells
- Air conditioner is sweating inside
- Air conditioner is blowing hot air
- Air conditioner keeps turning off
What are most air conditioner breakdowns caused by?
Air conditioning units can stop working for a number of different reasons, but most breakdowns stem from a few common issues. Whether it’s a clogged air filter, a refrigerant leak, or an electrical malfunction, these problems can reduce efficiency and even cause complete failure. Below are the most frequent reasons AC units break down.
- AC breakdown caused by electrical problems
- PCB faults
- Faulty air conditioner compressor that needs replacing
- Faulty air conditioner capacitor that needs replacing
- Faulty air conditioner condenser that needs replacing
- Faulty air conditioner evaporator coil that needs replacing
- Air conditioner pipe insulation that needs replacing
There are many more reasons your air conditioner may not be working, and our first step with any repair job is to diagnose the issue with an initial inspection.