Is your LG air conditioner blowing hot air instead of cold? This article guides in troubleshooting the unit and solving the issues quickly and easily.
Table of Contents
LG Air Conditioner Blowing Water – Quick Fix
The drain pan may be cracked or punctured. If this is the case, consider sealing the pan with epoxy glue or caulk with a waterproof property. It is easy to do this because most drain pans are made out of plastic.
But if the pan is made of another material such as metal, you may have to replace it. This is because glue or epoxy will not seal the cracks or holes. You may even consider replacing a plastic pan if it is an easier option than patching it.
A full drain pan means the drain line is clogged. One of the primary reasons the line gets clogged is a dirty air filter. So, inspect the filter and clean it with a small brush if it is dusty. But if it is significantly dirty, wash it with mild soap and warm water. A dirty filter will cause dirt to stick to the evaporator coil. And when condensate drips from the coil into the drain pan, it flows into the drain line, clogging it over time.
Next, use a wet/dry vacuum to clean the drain line of dust and debris. A water and vinegar solution may also do the trick, even though it may be difficult to get it into the hole. The vacuum is the best option; rent one from a nearby hardware store if you do not have it at home.
The position of the pan and circulation fan makes it easy to blow out water from the air conditioner. If the issue continues after emptying the pan and unclogging the line, it is crucial to get professional service to fix the issue.
Other Possible Causes and Fixes
Incorrectly installing the air conditioner can cause it to blow the water out. If your unit is a new installation and you notice this problem, contact the installation technician for assistance. It may be that the unit is sloping downwards into the house, making it easy for water to spill out of the drain pan. And when this happens, the fan blows it into the house.
If the evaporator is frozen, the fan close to it will blow water from the melting frost into the room. The primary reason the coil freezes is a dirty air filter. As discussed before now, clean the filter and coil, and ensure you check the filter every two weeks. That way, it never gets so dirty that it affects the coil. Then, disconnect the air conditioner from electric power to thaw the coil.
Another reason the coil freezes is an insufficient amount of refrigerant in the sealed system. If the filter is clean and the coil keeps freezing, employ the services of a technician to check the refrigerant level and charge the system if necessary. They will also check for possible leaks from where the refrigerant is leaking out.
While checking the filter and refrigerant, inspect the blower for faults. A malfunctioning blower can cause a few faults, including a frozen coil. Checking the blower may require the help of a technician for proper diagnostics and repairs.
In addition, check the outside weather. Though it is rare, cold weather can affect the evaporator coil. If you set and use the unit at incorrect temperatures when the weather is cold, the coil will freeze, and the melting ice will blow out of the unit when the circulation fan operates. Adjust the temperature according to the outside weather to reduce the risk of freezing the coil.
Note: Too much freezing will eventually damage the evaporator coil beyond repair. Also, these steps apply to all LG air conditioner types, including portable ones. For the drain line in a portable unit, you need only open the port and allow the water collection tank to empty. If the line is clogged, clean it with a wet/dry vacuum.
LG Air Conditioner Blowing Hot Air – How to Fix
If you find that your LG air conditioner is blowing only hot air instead of cold, check the Mode setting. Not all LG air conditioners come with a heating function. Some are styled to be Cooling Only while some are designed to cool and heat.
Therefore, check yours and if it is heats as well as cools, you may have it in the wrong mode of operation. The remote control displays which mode the unit is operating. Press the Mode button until you select Cool or Fan. the unit will start cooling or blowing air to circulate in the room.
But if you set it to Cool or your unit is Cooling Only and it is blowing only hot air, check and fix the following:
1. Air Filter
Remove the filter from the air conditioner and clean it. How you remove it will depend on the air conditioner type you own; portable units usually have two filters and a few have four. Window and through-the-wall units have one and you only have to open the front grille to remove the filter. Follow the steps in the user manual to determine the exact steps for the process.
Next, brush the dust and dirt off with a vacuum with an attachment. Ensure you remove all the dirt. If it needs washing, soak it in warm water, add some mild soap, and wash it. Afterward, dry it with a towel and leave it out to air-dry.
Dirt on the air filter will lower the capacity of the evaporator coil to produce cold air. When the coil is dirty, it freezes and limits the amount of cold air in the room. So, the circulation fan may be running but all it produces is hot air.
2. Condenser
Inspect the condenser outside the house. For split or multi-split units, the condenser stands alone, but window and through-the-wall units have the condenser attached to the indoor unit. Leaves, lint, and other types of debris quickly collect on it and cause overheating over time. So, clean the unit following the instructions in the care manual. Carefully work around the fins to avoid damaging them.
The outside condensing unit usually dissipates hot air from the system so that the unit can efficiently run. But if it is dirty, which it tends to be from time to time due to its location, the dirt acts as an insulator and prevents the heat from dissipating. Consequently, the heat reduces the unit’s capacity to cool. It is recommended that you clean the condenser every month with the help of a professional so that you do not damage the fins.
Additionally, ensure the condenser is running. Lack of power to the condenser will mean the indoor unit will blow only hot air.
3. Evaporator
Disconnect the air conditioner from electric power and open the access panel to see the coil. Remove the filter if you have to and inspect the coil. If there is an accumulation of frost on it, leave the unit off until the ice melts or use a hairdryer set to low heat to melt it. A frozen coil prevents the refrigerant from absorbing the heat from the air, which leaves only warm air to circulate.
4. Thermostat
Ensure the thermostat is set to the correct temperature to enable the room to cool. The fan should be set to Auto, not On, or the unit will blow hot more than cold. Next, set the air conditioner to Cool mode and test the thermostat to check its continuity while the unit is running. If there is no continuity, the thermostat may be faulty and in need of a replacement.
Adjust the temperature of the air conditioner according to the ambient temperature. Incorrectly setting the temperature can determine whether or not it blows hot air. The temperature setting must be at least 5 degrees lower than the outside temperature.
5. Refrigerant
Low refrigerant means the system is leaking and there is not enough gas to absorb heat from the air. As a result, the air remains hot even when the fans and other components are in good working condition.
However, it is not recommended that you refill refrigerant if you do not have the license. Therefore, hire the right personnel to check the sealed system for any leaks and patch them. Only then can they recharge the system with refrigerant. Otherwise, it will leak again and the problem will continue.
6. Boards
The temperature and main control boards may be malfunctioning. When they cannot read signals to turn on the compressor and fans to release cold air, the air conditioner will continue to blow hot air or not work at all. But before checking the boards, ensure other components more likely to fail are in good working condition. Misdiagnosing control boards is easy, and you may discard a perfectly good part.
7. Compressor
If all else fails, check the compressor. Ensure the run capacitor and overload protector are working. Replace any faulty one and test the compressor. You may need the services of a technician to run the test and determine if it can be repaired or you need a new one.
For a portable air conditioner, check the panel where the vent hose assembly is connected. Usually, you should seal around it to prevent hot air and insects from entering the house. But if there is a gap, a steady stream of hot air will lower the unit’s capacity to blow cold air. Also, check other areas for possible openings to limit the entrance of outside air.
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LG Portable Air Conditioner Blowing Hot and Cold Air – Quick Fix
Ensure the thermostat is set to the correct temperature to enable the room to cool. The fan should be set to Auto, not On, or the unit will blow hot and cold. Next, set the air conditioner to Cool mode and test the thermostat to check its continuity while the unit is running. If there is no continuity, the thermostat may be faulty and in need of a replacement.
Adjust the temperature of the air conditioner according to the ambient temperature. Incorrectly setting the temperature can determine whether or not it blows hot air. The temperature setting must be at least 5 degrees lower than the outside temperature.
Next, check the exhaust fan. The blades may be broken or the motor may be malfunctioning. The plastic manufacturing material may wear out too quickly under intense heat. So, you may have to replace it.
Also, check the filter or, as some people call it, lint trap. Remove and clean it with a vacuum or brush, or thoroughly wash it. If you have never cleaned the filter, the unit will not have enough air to cool. Also, the dirt affects the evaporator, leading to a reduction of cool air.
Recap
If you notice your LG air conditioner blowing hot air or water, it is crucial to find a solution as quickly as possible. This article discusses the possible causes of such problems and how to troubleshoot them. When you find the source of the problem, it is usually easy to fix it.
If nothing else seems to work, the best step is to contact LG Support Center and report the issue. Request service because the air conditioner may be due for one. It helps if your unit is still under an active warranty. You also have the option of using an independent HVAC technician to service the unit.