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Few things are as frustrating as fighting an HVAC unit blowing hot air instead of cold – especially here in Tampa Bay, where things are pretty hot, humid, and sweaty all year round.
The only thing worse than having an HVAC unit “on the fritz” is not knowing exactly how to fix it.
Tinkering with an HVAC system can make things worse. It might be blowing hot air right now, but imagine the system going down completely – and then having to be replaced – just because preventative maintenance or a simple fix wasn’t taken care of.
It happens more frequently than you might expect.
Let’s run through a couple of the reasons why HVAC units might start blowing nothing but hot air, how these problems can be fixed, and why you should call in the experts like us here at Comfort Air in Tampa.
The main reason that your HVAC system is blowing warm or hot air when it should be blowing cold air is that something is negatively impacting the hardware’s cooling capabilities.
Sometimes it’s a simple thermostat fix. Sometimes you just have to clean out the air ducting and filters to improve airflow.
Sometimes, though, the problem is much more serious.
That’s when you need to call the experts to get your HVAC back in action ASAP!
Believe it or not, one of the biggest problems people have with their HVAC system blowing hot air is a simple thermostat issue.
This is the very first thing you’ll want to check.
A lot of people call in professional help without checking that thermostat first, assuming that it is set the way they wanted it to be set – and that it hasn’t been tampered with.
Make sure that the thermostat is set to COOL, that the fan is set to AUTO, and that the thermostat’s temperature has been set to be cooler than it is outdoors.
Your HVAC system is going to need electrical power to operate.
If your circuit breaker set up isn’t cooperating then the chances are good your HVAC hardware isn’t getting enough “juice” to operate effectively.
Combine that with the fact that HVAC units are pretty power-hungry as a general rule of thumb and it’s obvious that this is definitely something that needs to be investigated.
Find your electrical panel and search for switches that have been tripped or fuses that have been blown. Flipped switches need to be kicked back to the on position and blown fuses need to be replaced.
If everything is good to go there, though, it’s time to move on to the next big culprit – evaporator coil and air filter issues.
Dirty air filters can inevitably lead to dirty evaporator coils, and that’s going to cause your HVAC system to pump out much hotter air than it would have otherwise.
It doesn’t take long for dirt, dust, and debris to build up on top of your evaporator coils. This leads to them freezing completely, impeding the flow of cold air, and pushing a lot of hotter air throughout your home in Tampa.
Maybe that sounds a little bit counterintuitive, but that’s the way that these systems work. You’re going to want to have a monthly checkup to verify that everything is free and clear, or you can expect hotter temperatures than you were hoping for.
If the thermostat is all clear, the electrical panel is good to go, and your evaporator coils are clean and free of an extra insulating layer of dust and debris, it’s time to have a closer look at your condenser coil.
Condenser coils are just as important as evaporator coils, and they need to be free and clear of dust, dirt, debris, and other gunk as well.
These coils are usually a little bit larger (which makes them easier to clean) – but they are also almost always outdoors here in Tampa. The potential for them to become gummed up with gunk and dirt skyrockets significantly because of that.
Lastly, it’s not at all uncommon for refrigerant issues (especially low-level refrigerant issues) to cause your HVAC system to pump out nothing but hot air.
This is NOT something that you’re going to want to tackle all on your own, though.
Refrigerant materials are very dangerous. Unless you are a qualified and professional HVAC technician you should NEVER attempt to fix a coolant problem.
It’s a good idea to schedule regular checkups to make sure that your coolant is good to go. You’ll also want to call in emergency assistance if you hear any hissing sounds, gurgling noises, or if there is a lot of ice on the actual refrigerant line.
The faster you get refrigerant problems addressed the happier you are going to be (and the less money you’re going to spend fixing your HVAC system).
Thanks to our experience working on HVAC systems throughout the Tampa area we’ve seen it all, pretty much.
We can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that the overwhelming majority of HVAC system problems – especially related to the systems blowing hot air and cold air – can be fixed with very little headache, very little hassle, and at a price point that works for homeowners' budgets.
Once again, though, it’s critical that you get out ahead of these issues as quickly as possible.
Regular preventative maintenance and six-month or annual checkups can guarantee that you get out in front of these problems when they are minor annoyances rather than catastrophic emergencies.
Our team of experts knows exactly how to accurately diagnose HVAC problems, how to remedy them quickly and get your system back up and running, and how to future proof and prevent as many of these issues from happening again in the future.
Of course, sometimes you’re just going to have an HVAC emergency on your hands and need help right away.
If your HVAC system is pumping hot air into your home here in Tampa (especially during the late summer months when things are really hot and humid) we hope you’ll give us a call here at Comfort Air.
We've built up a reputation for helping friends, neighbors, and fellow community members throughout the Tampa Bay region get their HVAC systems back up and running – sometimes better than brand-new, even.
If you’d like to learn more about our services or would like to schedule an emergency service (or a routine maintenance/checkup appointment) please don’t hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.
We’ll make sure to find time to get out to your home, have a look at your HVAC system, and recommend solutions – proven solutions that actually work – that will have your home climate controlled and blowing cool air once again in record time.
Reach out to us here at Comfort Air (a Rheem Pro Partner) as soon as you get a chance.
We would love nothing more than to help you beat the heat down here in the Tampa Bay area!
If you apply these tips you can maintain indoor air quality. Please call us at 813 413-1726 or you can click this link if you want to improve the comfort of your home.
