When Your Home Just Won’t Stay Cool

It’s happened to everyone at one time or another: you get home and are hit with a wall of stale, warm air. Why? Well, your AC has probably failed you.

After feeling your frustration, you may be wondering why this happened and what you can do. Before you pick up the phone to call your local HVAC technician, there are some things you can do on your own to diagnose the problem.

Check Your Filters

Dirty air filters are one of the top problems for AC systems. A dirty air filter is covered in dust, debris, and other particles that collect over time. Once the filter is completely full, it will prevent the AC from cooling efficiently. The AC will have to work harder and won’t achieve the same cooling rate as normal.

So on a really hot day, when your AC needs to be running at peak performance to bring your home’s temperature down, a dirty filter will prevent your home from staying comfortable.

Is it Off or Warm?

To diagnose an AC problem, an important question is whether the unit is not blowing air at all, or if it’s blowing warm air.

Blowing warm air may mean a refrigerant leak, which needs to be repaired by a qualified technician. It may also mean your thermostat is set to “fan” instead of “auto,” which would cause the AC to run all the time, and only cool when the temperature is a certain level.

If the AC is off, check your circuit breaker to see if the AC connection has tripped. Similarly, check for any frayed or broken wires around the unit. If your AC is on “auto,” play with the thermostat to see if adjusting the temperature helps it click on. The thermostat may need to be recalibrated to accurately measure the temperature.

Your Trusted HVAC Team

When your AC isn’t keeping your home comfortable like you want it to, trust in the Vander Hyde Services team to get the best service in Grand Rapids. Contact us today at (616) 319-2125 to learn more about what we offer and to make an appointment.