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Why Is My AC Blowing Hot Air? Common Causes and Solutions

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As St. Louis residents, we rely heavily on our air conditioning systems to keep us cool and comfortable during the sweltering summer months.

So when your AC starts blowing hot air instead of the refreshing coolness you expect, it can be frustrating and concerning. At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating, we understand how disruptive this issue can be. Let’s explore why your AC might blow hot air and what you can do about it.

Why Is My AC Blowing Hot Air - Common Causes and Solutions
Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC
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Giovanni was good…. This is reason we ask for him
Response from the owner: Thanks so much!
Zac and Giovanni are always extremely polite, considerate and professional. We are thrilled to have the new A/C unit. Our unit was 18 years old and stopped working in the thick of 100 degree weather. Tom (the owner) came over within an hour (after hours) and bought us time by changing out some parts until we could have the new one installed. We’re very happy with Thomas Hoffmann A/C and Heating!
Response from the owner: Katie, we're delighted that Zac, Giovanni, and Tom were able to assist you promptly and effectively during the heatwave. Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffmann A/C and Heating!
Honest takes his time to listen and help you without charging Arm and a leg
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind words, Carrie! We truly appreciate your feedback.
Couldn't be happier with our experience. Our AC stopped working after typical hours and they were the only "24/7" HVAC service who was able to come out same day. Not only were they fast, but they identified and fixed the problem immediately and did some preventative maintenance (and showed me how to do it) to prevent it from happening again. Will absolutely use them again in the future.
Response from the owner: We're so glad to hear about your positive experience, Hannah White! Thank you for choosing us and we look forward to helping you again in the future.
Great service! Prompt, polite and got the job done quickly.
Response from the owner: We're so happy to hear that you had a great experience with us! Thank you for your kind words.
We needed a repair on a Tuesday night (7:00 pm) and within two hours Tom Hoffmann arrived. In no time at all he located and fixed the problem! I would definitely recommend this company to anyone needing air conditioning repair.
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing us for your air conditioning repair needs! We appreciate your recommendation and are glad we could assist you promptly.
Thomas Hoffman personally quoted the job at a fair price and they did a quality install! I would highly recommend them!
Response from the owner: Thank you for recommending us, Joe! We appreciate your feedback and are glad you were satisfied with our service!
Came same day and fixed the problem.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your feedback! Glad we could help you out the same day.
Caught in a bind one evening (no AC), I called for an appointment to get mine repaired. They came out the next morning, one half hour early! Within 30 minutes we back up and running!! Thank you, Thomas Hoffman. You are my guys!
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing us, Sue! We're glad we could help you out quickly and get your AC up and running smoothly again! Thomas Hoffman and the team appreciate your kind words!
Blower went out on a Sunday. They answered my call, got me in, replaced blower, very easy!
Response from the owner: We're so glad we could assist you with your blower on a Sunday! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Thomas is amazing and came over in only a couple hours and fixed my ac! True life saver 🙏🏼
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience with Thomas! We're glad to hear he was able to help you out quickly and efficiently. 👍
Fantastic experience! Our AC went out on a scorching Saturday evening. I wasn’t actually expecting anybody to get out that night, but when calling - I immediately got an answer, was on the schedule in 5 minutes, and Thomas showed up an hour later. He was honest, professional, and educational. Most importantly, I didn’t feel like he was cutting corners or trying to get in and out… a welcome contrast from most services these days. 6 stars out of 5, highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Andrew! We're so glad to hear that Thomas provided such honest and professional service for your AC needs. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to serving you again in the future.
Service technician came out to fix our problem within 2 hours of my call. Fixed the problem. Was excellent.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're glad we could resolve the issue promptly for you. Thank you for your continued support of Thomas Hoffmann AC and Heating!
Our air conditioner stopped working & left us in this unbearable heat. Thomas Hoffman air conditioning & heating came to the rescue and saved the day!! We can't thank you enough. We highly recommended his services.
Response from the owner: We are so grateful we could help during the unbearable heat. Thank you for recommending our services!
A/C went out after hours. Company came out with no hesitation and got us going right away. Excellent service and would recommend to anyone that has the need.
Response from the owner: We're so grateful for your kind words and glad we could help you out when your A/C went out after hours. Thank you for recommending us!
We have complete trust in Thomas Hoffman AC. They have helped us several times over the years with hard to diagnose issues with our geothermal heat pump and traditional HVAC. They are competent, courteous and very easy to schedule .
Response from the owner: We appreciate your trust in us, Maria Grazia! It's great to hear about your positive experiences with our services. Thank you for your kind words!
The service technicians are very courteous and communicate well with the customer. They let you know what, if any, problems are found, the options, and the cost of the repair(s). Quick and efficient.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recognizing our service technicians' courteous and effective communication, we appreciate your feedback!
Nick came on SUNDAY when my a/c quit. He fixed the problem quickly and the price was reasonable. Great customer service.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Sherri! We're glad we could help with your a/c and provide great customer service at a reasonable price. We appreciate your business!
Called Thomas Hoffmann HVAC and received service very quickly, nick came out the next day and repaired my issue quickly. Really appreciate their service and would recommend to anyone in kirkwood!
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffmann HVAC! We're glad we could promptly address and resolve your HVAC issue. Appreciate your recommendation!
Excellent Service. Thank you Zackery
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Buzz! It was a pleasure assisting you.
I have complete trust in Thomas Hoffman AC . I have had multipletechnicians who are always polite and knowledgeable.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your trust in our team, Henry! We appreciate your kind words about our technicians.
Excellent service! I called Thomas Hoffman A/C & Heating at 8pm and they had us back up and going before bedtime! Great company!
Response from the owner: We're so glad we could assist you quickly! Thank you for choosing Thomas Hoffman A/C & Heating!
Came quickly and was awesome to talk to. Quick and had all the parts on hand. Wouldn’t use anyone else.
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Brendan! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with us. We appreciate your support!
We recently had no a/c during a heat advisory. Thomas Hoffmann AC and Heating did a great job getting us back up and running and helped us make the most cost effective decisions on the fix.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, we're glad we could help you during a challenging time. Thank you for your continued support, Don!
Thomas came to the rescue when our AC went out when it was 100 degrees out! He arrived a few hours after placing an after hours call and quickly diagnosed the problem. He had our AC unit back up and running within an hour so my family could sleep in a cool house. I highly recommend Thomas Hoffmann for anyone needing AC services!
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Lindsay! So glad Thomas could help get your AC up and running smoothly again for your family's comfort. Your recommendation means a lot!
Thomas Hoffman repaired our furnace in this past winter and A/C this summer. Job well done in both instances. Thank you!
Response from the owner: Thank you for trusting us with your furnace and A/C repairs, Jennifer! We appreciate your kind words and are glad we could help.
Our technician Zach was friendly and did a very thorough job. He even called me ahead of our appointment to let me know he might be a little later than anticipated. Would highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recommending us, we appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear about your positive experience with Zach.
Great experience. Nick diagnosed the issue quickly (unit making annoying noise). Nick was speedy in the repair, and also made a courtesy follow-up visit. Nick provided excellent technical expertise, customer service and communication. Nick was chill and friendly, and overall pried and exceptional customer experience.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience, Jon! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear that Nick was able to provide you with excellent service.
I am very pleased with the service provided., especially the quick response to my request . The technician came on a Sunday morning and had my cooling system repaired within an hour. Thank you !
Response from the owner: We're delighted we could promptly assist you on a Sunday morning and fix your cooling system efficiently. Thank you!
Great job explaining the situation they were early and notified me on estimated arrival time. Great customer service and reasonable prices as well will definitely use again for personal and business.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words! We're glad to hear that you were pleased with our service and pricing. Looking forward to serving you again soon!
Top notch company
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Greg! We appreciate your feedback!
Nick Hoffmann with Thomas Hoffmann Heating and Cooling is top notch. He is a true professional with friendly service. They do service, repair, and installation. They have a lot of years of experience and always look for the best way to help each and every customer. Please give Nick a call today for all of your heating and cooling needs.
Response from the owner: Thank you for recognizing Nick's professionalism and friendly service, we appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear about your positive experience with us!
We used Thomas Hoffman Air Conditioning to service our Hot Water Heater and plan on using them in the future for maintenance program.
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your great review. We appreciate your business.
Fast response and quick resolution
Response from the owner: Thank you for your feedback! We're glad we could help you quickly.
Quick to respond, very open and honest about what was wrong with good recommendations. We will continue to use them for all our HVAC needs
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words and for choosing us for your HVAC needs! We appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to serve you.
Thomas Hoffman Air Conditioning was very knowledgeable on finding and communicating issues found with my AC not cooling efficiently.
Response from the owner: Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We appreciate your feedback and are glad we could assist with your AC concerns.
Very good experience. Same day service. Hours later, the tech showed up and was in and out in about 20 mins. He was very nice and spent some time as well reviewing the remote control for the wall unit.
Response from the owner: We're so glad to hear you had a great experience with our same day service and that our tech was able to assist you efficiently and effectively. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Thomas Hoffman was originally recommended to me by an "insider" in the HVAC field, and it's one of the best referrals I've ever gotten! I've now been using them for four years, and two different homes. They are responsive, prompt, professional, and kind. They are also reasonable in their rates and honest in their assessments--no scammy upselling here! Most recently our AC went out over the weekend, and I called on a Sunday, expecting to leave a voicemail and hoping for an appointment within the next several business days. Instead, Nick Hoffmann answered right away, and he was at my house within the hour! Diagnosed and fixed the problem within another hour! They've definitely earned my trust, my thanks, and my business.
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your kind words and continued support, Douglas! We truly appreciate your trust and are grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
The service was great. The installers and guys that brought the materials needed were great. Cleaned up afterwards and answered any questions that I had. Would recommend.
Response from the owner: We're so glad to hear that you had a great experience with our team! Thank you for recommending us.
The staff was very professional and friendly. And they took no Tim at all to find and fix the problem with my AC. I would highly recommend to my family and friends.
Response from the owner: We're so glad to hear that you had a positive experience with our staff! Thank you for recommending us to your family and friends.
Got here in about 2 hrs Went rite to the problem Did not take long at all I'm very happy and will call them in the future
Response from the owner: Thank you for choosing our service! We appreciate your kind words and look forward to assisting you again in the future.
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Top Reasons Your AC May Be Blowing Hot Air:

  • Thermostat Issues
  • Dirty Air Filter
  • Low Refrigerant Levels
  • Frozen Evaporator Coil
  • Compressor Problems
  • Outdoor Unit Issues
  • Leaky or Damaged Ductwork
  • Incorrectly Sized AC Unit

Let’s dive deeper into each of these issues:

Thermostat Issues

Before diving into more complex problems, always start with the simplest explanation. Check your thermostat to ensure it’s set to “cool” mode, and the temperature is lower than the current room temperature. Sometimes, the issue is as simple as an accidental switch to “heat” mode or a thermostat that needs new batteries.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged air filter is one of the most common culprits behind an AC blowing hot air. When your filter is dirty, it restricts airflow, causing your system to work harder and potentially overheat. This can lead to warm air coming from your vents. We recommend checking and changing your air filter every 1-3 months, depending on usage and household factors like pets or allergies.

Low Refrigerant Levels

Refrigerant is the lifeblood of your AC system, responsible for absorbing heat from your home’s air. If your system is low on refrigerant, often due to a leak, it can’t effectively cool the air. This results in warm air blowing from your vents. If you suspect a refrigerant issue, contacting a professional HVAC technician is crucial, as handling refrigerant requires specialized training and equipment.

Signs of Low Refrigerant:

  • Warm air from vents
  • Hissing or bubbling sounds from the AC unit
  • Ice formation on refrigerant lines or evaporator coil
  • Higher than average energy bills

Frozen Evaporator Coil

Ironically, a frozen evaporator coil can cause your AC to blow hot air. This can happen due to restricted airflow (often from a dirty filter) or low refrigerant levels. When the coil freezes, it can’t effectively absorb heat from your home’s air. If you notice ice on your outdoor unit or indoor air handler, turn off your system and call for professional service.

Compressor Problems

The compressor is the heart of your AC system and is responsible for pressurizing and circulating the refrigerant. If it’s not working correctly, your system won’t be able to cool the air. Compressor issues can range from electrical problems to mechanical failures and typically require professional diagnosis and repair.

Outdoor Unit Issues

Your AC system consists of both indoor and outdoor components. If the outdoor unit is dirty, blocked by debris, or not receiving power, it can’t effectively release the heat absorbed from your home. This results in the system recirculating warm air. Ensure your outdoor unit has clear space around it and is free from leaves, grass clippings, and other debris.

Leaky or Damaged Ductwork

Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your AC unit but the ductwork that distributes the air. Leaks or damage in your ducts can allow hot attic air to mix with the cooled air, resulting in warm air from your vents. Professional duct inspection and sealing may be necessary to resolve this issue.

Incorrectly Sized AC Unit

If your AC system is too small for your home, it may struggle to cool the air effectively, especially on the hottest days. Conversely, an oversized unit might cool your home too quickly, leading to short cycling and poor humidity control. Both scenarios can result in inconsistent cooling and potentially warm air from your vents.

At Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating, we have the expertise to diagnose and resolve various AC issues. Our team of certified technicians can quickly identify the root cause of your AC blowing hot air and provide practical solutions to get your system back to peak performance.

Remember, regular maintenance is vital to preventing many of these issues. Schedule annual tune-ups with our team to keep your AC system running efficiently and extend its lifespan.

Don’t suffer through the St. Louis heat with a malfunctioning AC. If your system is blowing hot air or experiencing other cooling issues, contact Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating today. We’re here to ensure your home stays relaxed and comfortable all summer.

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