Is your central air conditioning system still running, but not producing enough cool air to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home? If so, you should know that this common AC problem is often caused by one of a few basic problems that can be corrected without the need to call in a professional HVAC contractor. Below you will learn more about the troubleshooting steps you can take in order to isolate and resolve the problem behind your system's reduced air flow.

Is The Problem System Wide?

The very first thing you will need to do is to determine whether the problem is system wide or if it is only affecting a few of the vents in your home. If the problem seems to be isolated to just a few vents, the likely cause of this problem is an air duct that has come loose or sprung a leak.

In order to find the loose air duct, begin by checking the duct connections directly surrounding your main AC unit. Be sure that each duct is secured tightly and that you do not feel any air coming from around the connection. If all of these ducts are working properly, continue your search by checking any other connections that you can access, such as those in your attic or crawlspace.

Not all of your air ducts will be easily accessible. If you are unable to find the problem duct during the course of your search, you will need to contact an HVAC contractor to further explore the hidden ducts inside your walls for air leaks.

 Is Your Filter Clean?

If the problem is affecting your entire cooling system, there is a good chance that your reduced air flow problems are the result of a clog in the system. Remember, your air conditioner can only put out as much air as it is able to take in. Therefore, a clog in the system can easily result in drastically reduced air flow.

One of the most common places for a clog to occur is at the air filter. This filter is designed to catch dust, dirt, pet dander, and other debris before it is allowed to enter your main air conditioning unit. The problem is, if this filter is not replaced every month, it can become clogged. When this happens, it will become increasingly difficult for your air conditioner to pull in air. Therefore, you will experience a decrease in your air output as well.

The good news is, fixing this type of problem is incredibly easy. Simply turn off your AC unit and remove the air filter that is located directly behind your main intake vent. Using the hose attachment on your vacuum, remove any dust and other debris that has built up inside of the space behind your filter. Next, replace the old filter with a clean filter of the exact same size. Finally, turn your AC unit back on and wait a few minutes to see if your air pressure improves. If there is no improvement, you could be dealing with a more serious problem and will need to contact an HVAC contractor. To learn more about air conditioning repair, speak with a company like Quality HomEnergy.