In the United States, three-quarters of homes possess air conditioning units (although in Europe, that number comes to less than five percent). Whether you live in an area with a hot or cold climate, your home’s air conditioning system will certainly eat up a lot of your energy costs.
Therefore, it is essential to make sure you get the most out of your AC system’s cooling potential.
If you feel as though your air conditioning system isn’t sufficiently cooling your home, there could be a wide variety of reasons why. Are you concerned with your AC not cooling apartment and don’t know what to do?
This brief guide will break down seven things to check on with your AC unit.
Table of Contents
1. Dirty Air Filter
If you suspect problems with your AC fan not working, there may be a chance that the real problem is with your AC unit’s air filter. Over time, dust, dander, and other airborne debris can accumulate, preventing proper airflow. In such cases, it doesn’t matter how well your air conditioning system is working if a clogged filter is blocking the air’s path.
2. Thermostat Problems
It may sound simple, but it’s an easy mistake that happens to all of us. You feel warm air circulating instead of cool air, so you suspect it’s your AC fan not working. However, the problem may simply be that your thermostat might be on the wrong setting, on “heat” instead of “cool”.
There is also a chance that it may be set to the wrong temperature altogether due to some outside factor.
3. AC Unit In A Warm Spot
Sometimes, if you think it’s the AC blower not working, it may be that the unit itself is in too warm of a spot. If your unit is by a warm window or is in direct sunlight for an extended period, it will have all the more trouble cooling the air.
If you are unable to move your AC unit to somewhere less warm, try using curtains or other means to shield it from sunlight.
4. AC Not Cooling Apartment Because of Broken Fan
A common cause of one’s apartment AC not working can be a problem with the AC unit’s fan. For whatever reason, if the unit’s fan is unable to run, then cool air cannot circulate.
If you notice your unit’s fan isn’t running, try resetting your unit and starting it back up again. If your fan still isn’t running, try turning it off, then trying to manually spin the fan clockwise in order to ensure its movement is unobstructed.
Also, there’s always a chance that your AC unit’s fan simply isn’t sufficient to distribute air through your home! Like AC units, homes come in all sizes, so if your AC unit is functional and still isn’t doing the trick, you may require a more powerful upgrade.
5. Low or Leaking Refrigerant
Another reason why your air conditioning unit might be blowing air that’s not cold is that your unit is low on refrigerant. This can be fixed by adding more, which requires much safety and isn’t quite as simple as it sounds. Be sure to exercise maximum caution and follow the directions closely.
However, if adding refrigerant doesn’t solve the problem then you may have a leak. If this is the case, this is an issue you will want to consult a professional to solve right away, as refrigerant fluid can pose potential health risks.
6. Clogged Condenser
If there is a portion of your AC unit that is outdoors or hanging out a window, you should make sure that its condenser isn’t being obstructed. Sometimes trees, leaves, or other environmental factors can come into contact with your unit as it takes in air. This can result in your unit’s condenser becoming dirty and clogged over time, preventing your unit from functioning properly.
If you notice anything in the way of your unit, be sure to either move or shield it from such objects, then give the unit a good cleaning to clear the debris.
7. Electrical Problems
If you start to suspect that your AC unit is broken or not functioning at all, be sure to determine whether or not this is due to an electrical problem first. Sometimes, this can mean a fuse has blown. This can be checked by resetting your AC unit, ensuring it’s plugged in, and taking a look at your electrical panel.
Another potential cause is that the circuit breaker in your home may have been tripped, which can happen to just about any household electronic device. Take a look at your home’s electrical panel and simply reset the AC unit’s allotted fuse. If neither of these does the trick, the unit’s problem may be more complicated and require a professional to fix.
Stay Cool and Stay In-the-Know
Once you have tackled the problem of AC not cooling apartment, there is no reason to stop there! Now that you are equipped with the know-how to fix your home’s air conditioning system, there are a wide variety of topics to stay clued in on to keep your home in its best shape. After all, you don’t want to wait for a problem to arise before you learn how to manage it!
At RoomImpact, our writers share a passion for building the coziest homes possible and strive to pass all the best home improvements and insights to our readers. Stay up-to-date with our blog and give yourself and your family the comfortable home you deserve.
