Reasons Why Your AC Is Not Cooling Properly

October 20, 2019 - Published by Scott's Air

While fall just began and temperatures are lowering, we still live in Florida and the weather hits 80 degrees daily. When your air conditioning unit doesn’t cool properly, you feel hot and uncomfortable in your own home. Reasons why your AC is not cooling properly can vary, here are some areas to look at.

Air conditioners utilize a delicate balance of airflow, temperature and pressure to keep you feeling refreshed when you walk into your home. If the unit is in need of maintenance or has a broken part, it could mean that a repair is in order. Here are some of the common reasons why your AC might not be cooling properly.

AC Problems within Your Control

Turn Your Thermostat to Auto – Leaving your AC in the “ON” position continuously circulates air throughout your home, even when cooling isn’t necessary. Setting it to “AUTO” cools your home only when it needs to which means that it only blows cool air.
Clean Your Air Filters – A dirty air filter can obstruct the airflow throughout your home and cause your AC to work harder in order to maintain your desired temperature.
Keep Your Outdoor Unit (Condenser) Clean and Clear – If your outside unit is really dirty or covered with debris, it can block the flow of hot air leaving your home. Keep your condenser clear of debris and remove any dirt. You can spray the unit with a hose if you need to, but be sure to keep the water on a light setting. You could damage the outdoor unit if the water pressure is too high.

Your AC Wasn’t Installed Properly

If you have checked all the items above and are still experiencing issues with your AC, then you might want to consider having another AC company inspect your current unit’s installation at your home. Your unit could be either too big or too small for your home, which can significantly impact its effectiveness.

Electrical Problems

Occasionally, there may be a malfunction with the electrical systems surrounding your AC unit. Breakers may occasionally trip without requiring manual switching to the off position. Check your breakers, flip them off and then back on to make sure the electrical flow is working properly.

Another common issue is with your thermostat. If your display goes blank, it’s likely due to an issue with either how your home is being cooled or the thermostat itself. Make sure you have fresh batteries and, if that doesn’t change the outcome, call your trusted AC company to come take a look.

Low Refrigerant

Refrigerant, also known as coolant, absorbs heat from your surroundings and, when combined with your compressor and evaporator, aids in providing refrigeration. If your AC is low on refrigerant, it would not have the ability to produce cool air. Contact your AC company to measure the refrigerant levels and make the necessary adjustments.

Important Announcement: If your AC was installed before 2010, it probably uses R22 refrigerant which is being phased out by the EPA. It may increase costs for maintaining your AC unit.

Broken Parts

If your AC isn’t properly cooling, you may have a broken condenser fan motor or a bad compressor among many other possibilities. Your condenser and compressor are important components to your AC system and thus, are necessary for you to have a cool home. You may need to replace the components or replace the entire unit. Contact Scott’s Air to provide an estimate on the repairs.

As a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, Scott’s Air is dedicated to doing Whatever It Takes® to deliver whole-home comfort. The team at Scott’s Air participates in special training throughout the year to provide solutions, installations, and services to satisfy customers. Scott’s Air has met the highest standards for superior skills and service, and promises a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee.

Scott's Air

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Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning is a full-service heating and air conditioning company and a Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealer in Central Florida. Whether you need repair, maintenance, or installation of a new heating or cooling system, we provide efficient, cost-effective, and professional service. When it’s hot, call Scott!

Tags: heating and cooling

Categorised in: Service and Maintenance

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UPDATE 12/11/25-
Mr. Scott, the owner took the time to speak with me the day before to take ownership of the unfortunate event, and to rectify it, he personally came over to speak to me and issued a refund for the blower motor replacement to honor me being a customer and purchasing the unit from them in recent times. This speaks a lot about his integrity and customer centric approach. Even though I didn’t hear from them initially for a few months, this was a great gesture in difficult times, and I appreciate this, therefore updating my review.

STAY AWAY!!!

I purchased a new AC system from Scott’s Air & Heat in 2022 for approximately $7,000. Since then, I have already spent over $1,500 on repairs in 2 years. Despite the system having a 10-year parts warranty, I was charged $650 for labor alone to replace a blower motor—a repair that took about one hour to complete. Another reputable company quoted $500 total, including both parts and labor, for the same job.

Additionally, I was charged $258 for the same issue just a week prior, and when the problem recurred, the company billed me again instead of honoring their previous service. Attempts to reach the owner or manager for a resolution went unanswered.

Overall, I found their pricing to be excessive and their customer service severely lacking. I would not recommend this company based on my experience.

Response from the owner:Hi, Thank you for taking Scott's call today & allowing us to make this right. We're looking forward to meeting you tomorrow with the hopes of being able to earn your 5-star rating. We genuinely care for our customers and their families and want you to be 100% satisfied. Thank you again.

Robin Preucil

It’s been a long process, but Scott did call personally to make sure that our ac unit was working properly. They even upgraded to the correct size unit we needed after many repairs and issues. I appreciate the follow through and transparent communication! They will make sure to follow up and help when needed. Thank you Scott and team!!!!

Response from the owner:Hi Robin, Thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to make this right. We're happy to hear your system is running good now & we were able to turn your experience around. Thank you for trusting us with your home.

Karon Phillips

12/11/25

Same day update! I want to applaud Scott, the owner, for contacting me about my concerns regarding the labor charge for our last job. It was a disappointment that I had to have such an expensive charge on a relatively new unit. However, we talked about it, and he’s going to try to help. I appreciate any owner who listens to customers and wants to try to make things right. Thank you, Scott. I guess I don’t have to shop around for a new AC company for now.

12/11/25
Just to clarify. My response says that I’m frustrated to pay for labor for a warranty repair. I didn’t understand this was a warranty repair and I always am fine with paying for labor if a job is done. I believe my review explains my frustration with flat fees no matter how long the job takes.

10/8/25
Update today. The price that was quoted me was not only labor. They are charging flat fees for jobs. This is a change from the past with HVAC companies , but with more explanation and a little flexibility, I think we will stay with Scott’s for the time being. We’ll see how it goes. They still remain extremely responsive and professional and kind. This is worth something. They also come quickly when you have a problem.

This is a big change in my review for this company. Over the past five years things have changed. The company I used to trust I am now very skeptical of. They no longer charge labor by the hour so that you pay more for something that is more difficult and less for something that is less difficult. Just flat fees. And extremely high ones at that! Guess I’m looking for a new company now.

Response from the owner:Hi Karon, Thank you for trusting us with your home all these years. I can understand your frustration in having to pay labor for a warranty repair. The warranty from the manufacturer (not us) only covers the part itself. We value our customers and our community & want to make sure we take care of you and your home. We've left you a message & hope you'll return our call so we can make this right.

Mia Torres

Chelsie was absolutely amazing!! She was on time, super friendly and personable! She was knowledgeable and even took the time to explain the problem and solution with our ac. I highly recommend them to service your HVAC needs!