When it’s a searing summer day in Auburn, nothing could be worse than recognizing your air conditioner isn’t operating the way it was built to. The last thing you need to do is request AC help. But your HVAC is a fairly intricate system, so it can be almost impossible to find out what’s triggering the problem without training.

That’s why Forster Heating created this informational guide to help you understand what could be happening with your AC. Here, you’ll discover a couple prevailing explanations for why your home is feeling a little too warm. And even though a couple of these are simple] DIY tasks, you might still need to bring in a professional for AC repair.

And if that’s the case, Forster Heating is prepared to take care of your home. Here are five reasons why your air conditioner may not be cooling your residence in Auburn.

1. Your Device Settings Could Be Wrong

Every person uses their thermostat a bit differently to work with their specific needs. Even so, many homeowners make the error of setting their thermostat to “On” instead of “Auto.” Because of this setting, the fan in your AC will continue to produce an air current even when you’ve achieved your set temperature.

This can appear like your system is pushing out warm air, when in reality it’s simply using the fan more often than required. Try switching this setting and work out if things seem better.

2. Your System Needs a Good Cleaning

There are two main places to investigate for dirt or dust accumulation when your AC doesn’t seem to be operating correctly.

Firstly, check out your AC system’s filter. If you don’t switch your filter on a regular basis, accumulated dirt can make it more labor intensive for air to move through and cool down your house. If your filter is obviously dirty or dusty, it’s definitely time to replace it. (And for best operation, you should switch it about once every three months at a minimum.)

If your filter appears clean, head to your outdoor unit. Find out if there’s adequate space around the unit and clear any plants or litter stuck there. This section of your system releases the heat from within your house. If the coils outside are congested, you won’t be feeling cool indoors.

We advise booking professional air conditioner maintenance yearly to keep your unit operating properly and to keep your warranty valid.

3. Your Unit is Leaking Refrigerant

Refrigerant is the chemical that chills the air in your space. It runs between your indoor and outside units to soak up and discharge heat, to help your home keep comfortable. If there is a crack along that path, you won’t be cool again until you set professional air conditioning repair.

Signs of a refrigerant leak include a drop in conditioned air, more expensive monthly bills, frozen evaporator coils and strange hissing noises arising from your HVAC.

If you think refrigerant might be leaking, call Forster Heating for HVAC repair as soon as possible. Refrigerant can also be harmful to your family’s health.

4. One or More Parts Have to Be Replaced

Your AC is made up of a couple essential elements. These include the blower, evaporator coils, compressor, fan, condenser coils and expansion valve. If one of these is not working as it should, your home comfort suffers.

Our Forster Heating technicians are certified and experienced in HVAC. They can help you locate and mend any issue.

5. Your AC Needs to Be Updated

If your system is over 10 years old, it is probably about time to research new air conditioner installation. As your system gets up there in years, it unfortunately won’t work as well as it did in the beginning. And it might be making your home uncomfortable.

If your system is on the younger side but still isn’t cooling things off, it could be too small for your living space. Air conditioners are not all the same. A cooling system that’s undersized just can’t chill a place the way a correctly sized system can.

Get a More Comfortable Space with Forster Heating

You won’t have to lose a moment this summer in an unpleasant space. When your cooling system isn’t working correct, turn to Forster Heating. We’re professionals in HVAC repair. Contact us at 530-885-8081 now.