Why isn't my AC blowing cold air?

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WHY ISNT MY AC BLOWING COLD AIR?
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• The last thing that you want on a sweltering
  summer day is to turn on your AC and find your
  air conditioner not cooling. Before you call a
  repair service, it is important to have a basic
  understanding of how your air conditioner works
  so that you can troubleshoot this common issue.

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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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THE BASICS OF AC OPERATION
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• All home air conditioning systems operate using
  the same basic principle. The evaporator,
  condenser, and compressor work together to
  extract heat from the air inside your house and
  recirculate the cooled air through a system of
  ducts back into your home. The evaporator coils
  located in the indoor portion of your AC unit use
  refrigerant to absorb heat from the air that is
  pulled into the system. The cool air is forced
  back into the home through the ducts and vents.
  Meanwhile, the refrigerant, which has been turned
  into a gas by the heat, travels to the condenser
  coil outside the home where the compressor
  condenses it back into a liquid. This extracts
  the heat from the refrigerant so that it can be
  released outside of the home. The newly cooled
  refrigerant is then forced back into the interior
  portion of the system to begin the cycle again.

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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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IMPROPER AC THERMOSTAT SETTINGS
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• The first step in diagnosing why your air
  conditioner not working is to verify your air
  conditioner thermostat settings to make sure that
  they have not been changed accidentally. The
  thermostat should be set to auto instead of the
  on setting. When set to on, the fan will
  continue to blow even when the AC has cycled off.
  This circulates air through your home but does
  nothing to lower the room temperature. It also
  uses more energy, which can run up your utility
  bill.

AC NOT WORKING DIRTY AIR FILTER
Your air conditioner needs unrestricted air flow
in order to function properly. If your air filter
is clogged with dirt and debris, the air flow to
your AC becomes restricted. This can eventually
cause your condenser to freeze up. At Swan
Heating Air Conditioning, we recommend that
homeowners change their air filter every one to
three months. It is important to note that
certain high-efficiency air filters designed to
remove extremely small particles from the air may
cause a similar problem. The filter material can
be so thick and tightly woven that it restricts
air flow just like a dirty air filter. Be sure to
refer to the manufacturers recommendations when
choosing a replacement air filter for your AC.
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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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DIRTY CONDENSER
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• Dirt can collect on the outside condenser unit
  and coils, which can cause your AC not cooling
  house evenly or even freeze up altogether. The
  condenser unit and coils should be inspected and
  cleaned annually to ensure that your air
  conditioner runs at peak performance. You should
  also make sure that bushes, weeds, and other
  objects are not restricting air flow. As a
  general rule, you should have a least 24 inches
  of clear space on all sides of the condenser unit.

LOW REFRIGERANT LEVELS
In theory, your air conditioner should never lose
refrigerant since it is contained within a closed
system. In reality, wear and tear can cause
various components to loosen or weaken resulting
in loss of coolant. Without refrigerant, your air
conditioner cannot cool the warm air. Low
refrigerant levels can also cause a drop in
pressure that can cause your AC to freeze.
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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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AC NOT COOLING DEFECTIVE PARTS
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• A variety of mechanical issues can cause your air
  conditioner to not blow cold air This is often
  the case with older AC units. The most common
  mechanical malfunctions involve the condenser and
  compressor. The condenser is the portion of the
  AC that removes the heat from the air. It should
  blow the warm air to the outside and return cool
  air into the home. The compressor takes the cool
  air from the condenser and pushes it to the vents
  in your home.

AC NOT TURNING ON ELECTRICAL ISSUES
A variety of electrical issues can affect the
performance of your air conditioner. Some of the
most common electrical issues that we see
include failed sensors, malfunctioning
thermostats, defective breaks, shorted or broken
wires, and corroded connectors or contacts.
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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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WHEN TO CALL AN HVAC PROFESSIONAL
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• If you have verified your thermostat settings,
  replaced your filter, and made sure that there is
  nothing obstructing the air flow around the
  outdoor unit, it is time to call a professional
  if your air conditioner not turning on or air
  conditioner is working but not cooling. At SWAN
  Heating Air Conditioning, we never recommend
  that homeowners try to diagnose and repair
  mechanical, electrical, or refrigerant leak
  issues on their own. This can cause further
  damage to your system, invalidate your
  manufacturers warranty, and pose a significant
  safety risk. Our HVAC technicians are available
  24 hours a day for emergency air conditioner
  repairs.
• The best way to ensure that your air conditioner
  is ready for the demands of the summer cooling
  season is to schedule an AC tune-up with a
  qualified service company. We offer affordable
  annual maintenance plans for homeowners in
  Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont and the
  surrounding areas of Northern Colorado. Our
  tune-up service includes checks of more than 20
  of your ACs safety and operating features. Call
  today to schedule your appointment. You can also
  use our convenient online service request form.

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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.