• Third floor AC blows hot air

    Jul.18.2011

    The air conditioning on the third floor is run by a different AC unit than the rest of the house. We periodically turn it on just to keep it running. However, during this last heat wave in Southern California, we turned the unit on and the vents are just blowing hot air out of them. I checked the AC unit in the backyard and it's not even turning on. What could this be?

    ERIK, LAKE ELSINORE, CA

    Your outdoor air conditioning could be failing to run due to one or more problems. There could be a lack of power voltage being fed by a 230 volt circuit. Inside your circuit breaker panel you will find a large breaker that feeds the air conditioner outdoor unit. Also on the outside near the unit there should be another power box for emergency disconnect purposes. If either of these switches is off, or if fuses in the outdoor switch are blown, then you don’t have the supply power voltage that the unit requires in order to operate. Another common problem occurs when the low voltage cable going to the outdoor unit is damaged by animals, children, or yard maintenance workers. Check for any loose or disconnected wires, or wiring that has signs of damage by chewing or fraying. Be certain all sources of electrical voltage are disabled if you find damaged wiring. Always use extreme caution when dealing with electrical equipment around your home. There could also be a problem within the outdoor unit or even with the thermostat inside the house. I suggest that you contact a qualified HVAC technician, like the ARS/Rescue Rooter branch in Corona, CA at (800) 442-5543 to diagnose the problem.

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