A whole house that will not cool is different from one warm bedroom. Work through the list below before assuming the compressor has failed.
1. Restricted airflow
Dirty filters, closed registers, blocked returns, and packed outdoor coils cut capacity. The system may run longer and still lose. Start with the filter and outdoor unit clearance.
2. Low refrigerant or outdoor equipment faults
Low charge from a leak reduces cooling and can ice the coil. Failed capacitors and fan motors also show up as “running but not cooling.” See AC running but not cooling.
3. Duct problems
Leaky, crushed, or poorly connected ducts can dump conditioned air into attics or crawl spaces. The thermostat area may feel closer to setpoint while bedrooms stay hot. Sealing and, when appropriate, duct cleaning can help after a proper inspection.
4. Heat and humidity entering the home
West-facing sun, weak attic insulation, long-running exhaust fans, and cooking loads all fight the AC. Closing blinds and limiting unnecessary exhaust can help the system catch up.
5. Undersized or aging equipment
A system that barely kept up in milder weather may fall behind on the hottest, most humid days. If the equipment is old, runs almost constantly, and still cannot hold setpoint, ask about a load-based replacement through cooling services.
Get a diagnosis
Call 908-752-0234 for AC repair serving Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren County. We will tell you whether this looks like a quick fix or a larger airflow or equipment issue.