Why Is My Central AC Running But Not Blowing Air?

As with other members of the mechanical family, air conditioners are subject to wear, tear and breakdown. If your air conditioner is making a loud buzzing noise or is your ac turning on but not blowing air? You likely have a few questions you’ll want to be answered. As we progress through the remaining weeks of summer, you’ll want to have a functional cooling system to keep your family, pets, guests, staff and clients cool and comfortable.

We here at Bruni & Campisi have seen a lot of different kinds of air conditioner failure in our 38 years in business, and we’d like to talk about a few common causes of air conditioner failure you can look for in your cooling system.

Common AC Problems

If your air conditioner is running but not blowing air and is making weird noises, there’s a chance you may have received the first clue as to what’s gone wrong with your system. A loud buzzing noise can result from a compressor that is not working properly or has damaged seating components, leaky refrigerant or a loose part. A rattle can be a sign that your unit may have become clogged with a foreign object like a leaf or stick.

If instead a clanking noise is what you hear, loose parts are a likely culprit. A banging noise can point to this, but is likely related to a damaged component within your compressor. Squealing, everyone’s favorite annoying noise, can indicate a bad blower motor, though you’ll want to ensure this is an unusual occurrence specific to your unit.

Screaming —  what we at Bruni & Campisi like to call “extreme squealing” — is something to be very concerned about, as this can point to serious issues like a refrigerant leak or exceptionally high pressure in the compressor.

You may wonder why your AC is humming but no air is blowing from the vents in your house. If the AC unit is running, but there is no air through the vents, you are likely dealing with a fan capacitor that has reached the end of its life. Fan capacitors help get your HVAC system’s outdoor and indoor fan motors blowing and your compressor running.

Additionally, if you notice your AC emitting strange, foul odors, it’s time to call a professional to help you figure out what’s going on.

Bruni & Campisi: Your Westchester County Area AC Repair & Replacement Experts

Is your air conditioning unit clanking, banging, squealing, screaming or humming without pumping out any cold air? Don’t sweat it — trust Bruni & Campisi to get it running again.

With nearly 40 years of experience diagnosing, repairing and replacing air conditioning systems, Bruni & Campisi — headquartered in Elmsford, NY — is your go-to source for all AC needs. If you’re a home or business owner located in Westchester County, NY, Putnam County, NY,  Greenwich, CT, Stamford, CT or the surrounding area, we can help. Contact us today for a free estimate and a friendly, knowledgeable member of our team will be in touch. For an emergency service, call us directly at 914-229-2809 24/7!

Summertime can bring extreme heat and make it tough to keep your home or business cool! If you’re concerned about the increase you’ll experience in utility costs or worried about the impact you’ll have on the environment by running your air conditioner, know that energy-saving air conditioning units and efficiency-increasing techniques are out there, ready to help you save money and prevent excessive environmental erosion.

Let’s take a look at some of these green air conditioning units and efficiency tips to learn more about the benefits they can provide for your home or business this summer.

Eco-Friendly & Cost-Saving Air Conditioning Units: The Basics

Purchasing a newer, more energy-efficient air conditioner is one way to achieve the cost savings you’re looking for. Seeking out a unit with an EnergyStar rating is a smart, easy way to achieve this, as is looking for a unit with a high SEER rating. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is calculated by dividing BTU — British Thermal Units, a measure of air conditioning efficiency that represents the amount of heat that can be removed from a space in an hour — by the wattage required to generate the energy. High SEER numbers, therefore, correlate with increased energy efficiency.

Note that you don’t need to run out and buy a unit with the highest SEER number out there — while that can be one way to save money in the long term, simply buying an air conditioner with a higher SEER than your old unit can help you save a good deal of money every year on utility bills.

Other Ways to Help Reduce Your Cooling Bills

There are other ways to improve your building’s energy efficiency that can be paired with purchasing a new unit or used as an alternative to buying a unit. One of the most common and effective methods is to look for and plug air leaks throughout your structure or HVAC system. These leaks can reduce efficiency and make your compressor work harder to maintain a consistent temperature.

Check your home’s insulation to see if it is sufficient and utilizes up-to-date materials. You can also check in and around your windows, as these areas are often prime suspects for air leakage. If replacing your windows for more energy-efficient alternatives is impractical or cost-prohibitive, consider installing weather stripping or caulking up gaps to help keep cool air from escaping.

Bruni & Campisi: Your HVAC & Air Conditioning Experts

If you’re a home or business owner in Westchester, NY, Greenwich, CT, Stamford, CT or the surrounding areas interested in getting cost-efficient air-conditioning units or plugging leaks in your HVAC system, contact us for a free estimate here at Bruni & Campisi. We offer a wide range of air conditioning installation, repair and replacement services.

Avail yourself of a team of experts that have provided satisfied clients throughout the New York metropolitan area with quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service for nearly 40 years — trust Bruni & Campisi to get the job done.

A broken air conditioner during the summer is a real let down. You, your family, your staff and your clients live and work better in a comfortable, temperature-controlled environment — a hot, sweaty home or business facility is no fun for anyone.

If you’re concerned that your AC or HVAC system is not working, we’re here to provide you with a few tips on what to look for.

Is My AC Too Old?

An old air conditioning unit isn’t necessarily in need of replacement. If it’s been well-maintained and serviced, your old AC might be able to provide you with many more years of reliable service.

With that said, an air conditioner or compressor that is older than 10 years may lack certain efficiency features that newer models offer in abundance, such as Energy Star ratings. If your old AC has a SEER — Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio — rating, you’ll be able to compare that to units currently on the market. A higher SEER means a unit can produce better energy efficiency, saving you money on energy bills and helping preserve natural resources. We recommend replacing your air conditioner if it has a SEER under 13.

Telltale Signs of AC Failure

There are a few other ways you can determine whether your AC is in need of replacement:

• Weird Smells: If you begin to notice offensive odors after turning on your AC, first check its vent to see if your filter needs replacement. If this isn’t the culprit, it may be time to think about buying a new unit, particularly if it emits a stale smell or if your nose tells you something’s about to incinerate.
• Unusual Noises: If your AC is making unusually loud sounds, it’s possible something inside has come loose or is about to break. Much like noises from your car that cause concern, you’ll want to pay attention to any noticeable knocks or squeals that emanate from your unit.
• It’s Still Too Hot in Your Building: We’ve had a few exceptionally hot days this summer that have placed a strain on our air conditioning systems, but if you find that your unit consistently fails to keep your room at a comfortable temperature, it’s time to invest in a replacement.

Bruni & Campisi: Your AC Replacement Source

If you’re a home or business owner in Westchester County, NY, Stamford, CT, Greenwich CT or the surrounding areas in need of a new air conditioning system or repairs to your existing unit, contact us at Bruni & Campisi today for a free estimate. We’re well experienced in working with clients to suggest when to get a new HVAC — we’ve successfully provided this service to area residents for nearly 40 years.

We offer a wide range of rebates for high-efficiency air conditioning systems, so now is a great time to upgrade your home or business’s HVAC system. Trust the friendly, knowledgeable team here at Bruni & Campisi to provide you with expert air conditioning consultation and professional installation services.