Why is my ducted air con system not getting cold?

10 reasons your air conditioner might be struggling to cool your home

Ducted air conditioners are one of the smartest, most effective ways to cool your home in summer and keep it toasty warm in winter. But occasionally, you might turn the system on and find to your dismay that it just isn’t getting cold. What’s the reason?

Dollar signs flash before your eyes and you wonder whether you’ll need the whole system replaced. Perhaps not!

You’re welcome to call Jaric Air Conditioning for advice and assistance. But before you do, could there be something you could check for yourself to get the unit working properly again?

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your ducted air con system isn’t getting cold.

1) The unit is short of gas

One of the most common causes of a ducted system not getting cold is when the unit’s refrigerant gas has escaped.

Whether it’s because of the unit’s age, a leak, or simply poor installation, when the gas escapes it means that the air con simply won’t be able to operate as normal.

Just like your car’s radiator, an air con needs sufficient gas to operate – and you’ll run into problems when it doesn’t have the right amount.

Having your ducted air con system regularly serviced is a good way to ensure that gas levels are checked, leaks identified and repaired when needed.

2) A blocked filter in the indoor unit

The more you use your air con, the more it sucks dust and debris out the air (as it’s designed to do). Over time, this can block the unit’s filter, meaning it can no longer circulate and cool the air.

This problem only gets worse if you’re living in a very dusty area, or you have pets that drop a lot of hair or fur inside your home.

The good news? This is one issue that you can fix yourself – or even prevent it happening. Make sure you check and clean your air con’s filters about every three months.

3) A blocked condenser on the outdoor unit

Your ducted system’s outdoor unit relies on an unobstructed flow of air to work. So if you notice household rubbish, or the dog’s bed, or even a purpose-made cover obscuring the outdoor unit, make sure you move it straight away. Debris such as grass clippings, leaves, or dog hair can also obstruct the outdoor unit over time.

To avoid this, just like the unit’s air filters, the outdoor unit should be cleaned and washed about every three months to ensure it keeps working as intended.

4) Simple user error

We’ve all done it! Chosen the wrong setting on the air con control… or if using a remote control, failed to check for flat batteries… or perhaps even broken the remote by dropping or throwing it. Sometimes the kids may have switched off the outdoor unit, as kids do!

Take the time to check all these issues before you pick up the phone to call Jaric Air Conditioning. We can fix these things – but you can too!

5) A blocked coil in the indoor unit

If the ducted system’s filters aren’t cleaned often enough, mould and dust will inevitably build up, to the point where the filters become ineffective. The air con’s coil can become blocked, which means it won’t be able to cool your home.

At this point, you will need to contact a reputable air conditioning technician to inspect and professionally clean the unit’s coil.

6) A mechanical or electrical component fault

Over time, like any electrical or mechanical system, air conditioners can develop faults. Whether it’s because of geckos or cockroaches nesting in the system; rodents gnawing on a wire; the failure of a component; or a faulty sensor, problems do happen. A simple check in the switchboard may identify a tripped circuit breaker.

A conversation with your local Jaric Air Conditioning expert can help identify and fix the issue.

7) Faulty air con installation

It’s a sad fact that not all air conditioner installers have the same qualifications, or do the same high standard of work. We’ve seen examples of air cons that haven’t had their connections installed properly, so that the gas quickly leaks out. We’ve seen systems that haven’t been designed correctly for the size of the room, or even the location in a home.

That’s why it’s worth looking for a ducted air con installer with a QBCC Unlimited Design licence, and an RAC01 ARCTick that shows you that your electrician is fully qualified in installation, after sales service, and support for your air conditioner.

That way, you can be confident that your air con will be installed correctly and will last you much longer.

8) A faulty zone motor

Another issue which can affect ducted systems is faulty zone motors. This can mean the system cools some rooms, but not others. Talk to Jaric Air Conditioning to find out more.

9) Using the wrong duct or vent sizes for the system

If your ducted system has been installed with the wrong ducts or vent sizes, your air con will struggle to get cold enough.

It’s another reason why you should always choose a fully qualified ARCTick installer – not just a sparkie with a Cert 2 who can only install a ducted system, and not repair it.

10) Damaged ductwork in the roof

Lastly, your ducted air con system might not be getting cold due to damaged or crushed ductwork in your home’s ceiling. This can mean that the conditioned air simply has no way of reaching your rooms.

If you can check your ceiling space safely, look out for damaged ductwork that could be causing the issue. Or simply call our air con experts for an inspection!

How do you fix a ducted system that won’t get cold?

To avoid many of these issues above from ever happening, it’s a great idea to have your ducted system air con serviced by Jaric Air Conditioning every 12 months – depending on your operating conditions. By that we mean that if you live in dirty or dusty area, or you leave your home’s windows open during the day (letting more dust into your home), you might need a service more regularly. Ducted systems in bedrooms can be affected by bed lint and even hairspray! So they too may need more regular attention.

Our friendly air con experts will check all of the issues we’ve talked about in this article. To preserve your unit’s warranty, many manufacturers recommend a yearly service. Note that warranties don’t cover things like vermin nesting in your unit, or user error.

We can even put you on a reminder list so you’ll never forget an air con service! We’ll give you a call when your ducted system is due for a checkup.

Contact Jaric Air Conditioning for expert advice on your home’s ducted air con system

The expert team at Jaric can offer you the advice you need for your air conditioning.

To find out more, call Jaric Electrical & Air Conditioning on 1300 452 742 or contact us online.