Why is My AC Vents Blowing Warm Air?
South End Plumbing, Heating, & Air Expert Tips
Why Is My AC Blowing Warm Air?
When temperatures begin to climb up throughout North and South Carolina, home’s AC systems are being pushed to the limit. It’s no wonder this time of the year is when the highest amounts of failures occur. One of the most common complaints is that home owners complain of their HVAC vents blowing warm air.
The repairmen of South End Heating & Air are here to respond to common concerns associated with this issue, beaming light on why an a/c system all of a sudden blows warm air. Our HVAC specialists likewise share some troubleshooting steps homeowners can take to fix minor system problems, avoiding the wait as well as expense service call. However If you are in need of air conditioner repair in your Charlotte home, call us to schedule solution. The Technicians at South End Heating & Air have actually served homeowners in Charlotte, NC, and also the bordering areas for more than 25 years and is one of the only HVAC companies in the area that offer a truly FREE Estimate!

Do You Feel Warm Air Blowing Out of Your AC’s Air Vents?
Many of the reasons your AC may be blowing warm air are as follows:
- Air filters are dirty and need changed
- Frozen evaporator coil
- Thermostat isn’t properly programmed
- Lack of electricity to the outdoors unit
- Freon leaking and is low
- Outside condenser coil needs a wash
Of these the most common is the air conditioning system’s filter is unclean, the AC can not properly move air via the system. This problem strains your air conditioning unit as well as can cause an AC to blow warm air. Because this is the usual suspect and it’s the easiest fix, check your air filter to ensure it is clean. If the existing air filter is filthy, replace it with a brand-new one to see if the warm air issue goes away.
Icy Evaporator Coils
Your air conditioning unit’s evaporator coils draw out heat from your home’s air to start the air conditioning process. A bi-product of this process is condensation, which is why air conditioning unit have a drip pan as well as condensate drainpipe to capture the drawn out moisture and move it out of the system to drain outside. When moisture accumulates on the evaporator coils, they might ice up. Frozen coils do not let the heat transfer, so you’ll feel warm air blowing from your Air Conditioner system if this problem is present.
To troubleshoot this you can confirm the issue by turning off power to your cooling system and opening the access air handlers components to see the evaporator coils. If you see frost or ice on the coils, the best option is to give the coils time to thaw. When you turn off your AC this can take up to 24 hours depending upon the severity of the freeze. You’ll want to make sure you leave the AC off by taking your thermostat off of “cooling” mode, you can however leave the fan running.
To speed things up, a hair dryer can likewise be utilized to thaw coils that have frozen over. Make sure the system’s drip pan and also condensate drain are not blocked so they are able to efficiently eliminate the water that will drip out. Icy evaporator coils can be triggered by restricted air movement, Freon leaks, system damage, or other concerns. The root of the issue have to be resolved to avoid a recurring problem. If after you thaw the coils and it freezes up again you’ll know it’s time to contact our trusty AC Technicians for a checkup.

Confusing Thermostat Programming
In some cases, an easy mistake at the thermostat can lead to an Air Conditioner not giving enough cold air. It can run all the time, not just throughout a cooling cycle if the blower fan is set to ON instead of AUTO. In in between cooling cycles, the air you really feel from the vents can be warm and this is normal.
If you have an A/C that’s blowing warm air during a cooling cycle, inspect your thermostat’s programming. Make sure the fan is set to AUTO and the COOL setting is chosen. You’ll also want to verify that you don’t have different settings programmed for different times and days if you didn’t intend to do so. You can override hourly and day/night changes by setting the mode to HOLD if you aren’t familiar with how to properly program your thermostat.
Loss of Power to Your HVAC System
In a split air conditioning system, both the indoor as well as outside units should go to full cooling cycles and also supply air conditioning in the house. If power supply to your home’s outdoor condenser is disrupted, the interior elements are the only ones working, which triggers warm air to blow from the house’s vents. Check that your exterior condenser unit has power. Examine the home’s electric panel to confirm the breaker has not stumbled; reset it if needed. Additionally, inspect the ON/OFF switch or near the outdoor AC system to validate it is readied to ON. If you see the fan turning you’ll know that it’s getting power.
Freon Low and Leaking
Refrigerant leakages are also a common cause your Air Conditioner vents may be blowing hot air. The air conditioner does not have the proper charge to complete its air conditioning cycles when gets low from the system via a leak. Thus, the air you feel indoors is warmer than it should be. Freon leaks should be dealt with by a licensed heating and cooling technician with the appropriate certifications for refrigerant handling. This is because the EPA guidelines for servicing freon-related systems is very strict.
Other indications that point to a refrigerant leakage include:
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Hissing sounds from a/c unit parts
- Higher electric costs without explanation
If for some reason you feel your AC’s vents are just blowing warm air, we may can help! Just schedule an visit with one of our technicians to talk about how we can get your air conditioning system working properly again. Would you like to learn more options our techs can help you with? give us a call 704-684-5339