Your air conditioner is running but your house is still hot. Before you pick up the phone, try these quick checks that could save you a service call.
It is one of the most frustrating things that can happen during an Omaha summer: your AC is running, the thermostat is set to 72, and your house is still 80 degrees. Before you panic and call the first HVAC company you find, there are several things you can check yourself that might solve the problem without a service call.
We are DL Heating & Cooling, and we have been servicing air conditioners across the Omaha metro for over seven years. These are the seven most common reasons we see for an AC not cooling, starting with the ones you can fix yourself.
This is the number one cause of AC problems we see in Omaha homes, and it is the easiest to fix. A clogged air filter restricts airflow to your system, which forces it to work harder and can cause the evaporator coil to freeze. When the coil freezes, your AC blows lukewarm or room temperature air instead of cold air.
Pull out your filter and hold it up to a light. If you cannot see light through it, replace it. We recommend checking your filter every 30 days during the summer months when your system is running constantly. A clean filter costs $5 to $15 at any hardware store and takes 30 seconds to swap.
This one sounds obvious, but we get calls for it more often than you would think. Make sure your thermostat is set to COOL (not HEAT or FAN ONLY) and that the temperature is set below the current room temperature. Also check that the fan setting is on AUTO, not ON. When the fan is set to ON, it blows air continuously even when the compressor is not running, which can feel like warm air coming from the vents.
If you have a smart thermostat, check for any scheduled temperature changes or energy saving modes that might be overriding your settings. Battery-powered thermostats can also malfunction when the batteries get low. Try replacing them with fresh batteries.
Go outside and look at your AC condenser (the big metal box with a fan on top). Is it running? If the fan is not spinning, you may have a capacitor or electrical issue that needs professional repair.
If it is running, check for debris. Omaha yards get full of cottonwood fluff, grass clippings, leaves, and dirt, especially in late spring and early summer. If the condenser coils are caked with debris, your system cannot release heat efficiently. You can carefully rinse the outside of the unit with a garden hose (from the inside out if possible, with the power off). This alone fixes a surprising number of AC performance issues.
Also make sure there are at least two feet of clearance around the unit. Bushes, fences, and stored items too close to the condenser restrict airflow and reduce cooling capacity.
Walk through your home and make sure all supply vents and return air registers are open and unblocked. Furniture, curtains, rugs, or even a box pushed against a vent can restrict airflow enough to make your system underperform. Closing too many vents in unused rooms can also create pressure imbalances that reduce efficiency.
Your air conditioning system actually uses two breakers: one for the indoor air handler or furnace blower, and one for the outdoor condenser. If the indoor breaker is on but the outdoor breaker has tripped, your fan will blow air through the house but it will not be cold because the compressor is not running.
Find your electrical panel and check both HVAC breakers. If one has tripped, flip it off completely and then back on. If it trips again immediately, do not keep resetting it. That indicates a larger electrical issue and you should call a professional.
Look at the copper refrigerant line running from your outdoor unit to the indoor unit. If you see ice or frost on the line or on the indoor coil, your system has a problem. The most common causes are restricted airflow (usually a dirty filter) or low refrigerant from a leak.
If you see ice, turn the system off and let it thaw completely. This can take several hours. Once thawed, replace the filter if it is dirty and try running the system again. If it freezes up a second time, you likely have a refrigerant leak and need professional service.
If your AC unit is over 12 to 15 years old, reduced cooling performance may simply be a sign that the system is reaching the end of its life. Older units lose efficiency over time, and at a certain point, the cost of repeated repairs exceeds the cost of a new installation.
When a replacement makes more sense than a repair, we install Oxbox air conditioning systems as our go-to recommendation. Oxbox is built by Trane, one of the most trusted names in HVAC, but at a price point that makes sense for real homeowners, not just luxury builds.
Here is why we chose Oxbox as our preferred brand:
We service and repair all brands, including Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, and Bryant. But when it comes to recommending a new system, Oxbox gives our customers the best combination of quality, warranty protection, and value. Learn more about our AC services →
If you have checked all seven items on this list and your AC is still not cooling, it is time to call a licensed HVAC technician. Some problems, like refrigerant leaks, electrical faults, compressor failures, and blower motor issues, require professional tools and training to diagnose and repair safely.
Need AC repair in Omaha? DL Heating & Cooling offers same-day and 24/7 emergency air conditioning service across the Omaha metro area. We provide upfront pricing before any work begins and we will never sell you something you do not need. Call (402) 672-6062 or request a free estimate online.
The best way to avoid a broken AC during the hottest week of the year is regular maintenance. An annual tune-up catches small problems before they turn into expensive emergency repairs. Our maintenance service includes cleaning condenser coils, checking refrigerant levels, inspecting electrical connections, testing thermostat calibration, and making sure your system is running at peak efficiency.
Ask about our affordable HVAC maintenance plans that cover annual tune-ups for both your AC and furnace, plus priority scheduling if you ever do need a repair.
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