Why Is My AC Running But Not Cooling? A Few Things to Check Before You Call Someone

There aren't many things that will get your attention faster than walking into your house on a hot Indiana day and realizing:

It's warm in here.

You walk over to the thermostat.

It's set to 72.

The house is 78.

You put your hand over the vent and the air conditioner is definitely running...

but the house isn't getting any cooler.

First: don't panic.

And second: an air conditioner that isn't cooling doesn't automatically mean you need a new air conditioner.

We know that's probably one of the first thoughts that runs through your head.

"Well, this is going to be expensive."

Maybe.

But maybe not.

At Fall Creek Plumbing Heating & Cooling, we'd rather help you figure out what you're dealing with before assuming the worst.

So before you call us—or anybody else—here are a few simple things worth checking.

1. Check Your Thermostat

We know.

It sounds way too obvious.

Check it anyway. 😂

Make sure your thermostat is actually set to COOL, the temperature is set below the current temperature of the house, and your fan is set to AUTO.

If your thermostat uses batteries, it doesn't hurt to check those too.

Sometimes the problem really is that simple.

And if it is?

Awesome.

You just fixed your AC without paying somebody to come to your house.

That's a win in our book.

2. Check Your Air Filter

This is another incredibly simple one that can cause surprisingly big problems.

Your HVAC system needs airflow.

When an air filter gets packed with dust, pet hair and everything else floating around our homes, your system has to work harder to move air through it.

Eventually, restricted airflow can contribute to your system struggling to cool the house—or even freezing up.

Pull the filter out and take a look.

If it looks like something you'd rather not breathe through, your air conditioner probably doesn't love breathing through it either.

Replace it and see if your airflow improves.

3. Is Your AC Running Constantly But Never Catching Up?

This is one of the big ones.

Your system seems to be working.

You hear it running.

Air is coming from the vents.

But instead of reaching the temperature on the thermostat, the temperature inside keeps creeping upward.

There are several possible reasons for this:

Your outdoor unit could be dirty or obstructed.

Your indoor coil could be freezing.

There could be an airflow problem.

The system could have a refrigerant issue.

An electrical component could be failing.

Or, especially during extreme Indiana weather, your system may simply be struggling to keep up.

The important part is this:

Running doesn't necessarily mean working correctly.

If your AC has been running for hours and the temperature in the house keeps climbing, it's probably time to have somebody take a look.

4. Check the Outdoor AC Unit

Take a walk outside.

You don't need to take anything apart.

Actually, please don't. 😂

Just look.

Is the outdoor unit running?

Is it covered in grass clippings?

Are weeds growing around it?

Has something fallen against it?

Your outdoor condenser needs airflow too.

If the area around it is packed with debris, carefully clear the area around the unit.

If the indoor system seems to be running but the outdoor unit isn't doing anything, that's another good sign it's time to call an HVAC technician.

5. Do You See Ice?

Ice on an air conditioner sounds like it should mean the thing is working REALLY well.

Unfortunately, it usually means the opposite.

If you notice ice around your HVAC equipment or refrigerant lines, your system may have a frozen coil.

That can happen because of restricted airflow, a dirty filter, refrigerant problems or several other issues.

If you see significant ice, don't keep forcing the system to run hoping it'll magically fix itself.

Turn the cooling off and give us a call.

We can figure out why it froze instead of simply treating the symptom.

6. Is Your AC Blowing Warm Air?

This is probably the moment most homeowners know something isn't right.

Your thermostat says COOL.

The system is running.

But the air coming from the vents feels warm.

Start with the easy things we've already mentioned:

Thermostat. Filter. Breaker. Outdoor unit.

If all of those look normal and you're still getting warm air, there may be something happening inside the system that needs to be diagnosed.

And that's where we come in.

"Okay...When Should I Actually Call Someone?"

Here's our rule:

Do the simple stuff. Don't do the dangerous stuff.

Change your filter.

Check your thermostat.

Look at your breaker.

Look around the outdoor unit.

Those are normal homeowner things.

But you shouldn't need a YouTube certification in HVAC repair just to get your family comfortable again.

If you're dealing with electrical components, refrigerant, repeated breaker trips, strange smells, grinding noises, frozen equipment or something you simply don't feel comfortable messing with...

call somebody.

And we'd be grateful if that somebody was us.

We're Your Neighbors, Too.

Fall Creek Plumbing Heating & Cooling was built here in Central Indiana around a pretty simple idea:

Take care of people.

Because when your air conditioner quits, you're not just choosing somebody to repair a machine.

You're choosing who you're comfortable letting walk through your front door.

We don't take that lightly.

Sometimes we'll find something small.

Sometimes we'll find something that needs repaired.

And yes, sometimes an HVAC system has reached the point where replacement makes more sense than continuing to put money into it.

Whatever we find, our job is to help you understand what's happening and make the decision that's right for your home.

No scare tactics.

No making a problem sound bigger than it is.

Just people taking care of people.

That's what Fall Creek Plumbing Heating and Cooling Services is supposed to mean.

Need AC Repair in Central Indiana?

If your AC is running but not cooling, blowing warm air, freezing up, making strange noises, or simply can't keep your home comfortable, give Fall Creek Plumbing Heating & Cooling a call.

We proudly serve homeowners throughout Pendleton, Fortville, McCordsville, Geist, Fishers, Anderson, Muncie, Noblesville and the surrounding Central Indiana communities.

And if you aren't sure whether your problem actually requires a service call?

Call us anyway.

Tell us what's going on.

We'll help you figure out the next step.

Plumbing. Heating. Cooling.

Call Fall Creek.