Aircon Not Cold But Wind Is Blowing? Here's What to Check

It’s 2pm in Petaling Jaya, and the heat outside is hitting 34°C. You turn on your aircond for relief, expecting a blast of arctic chill, but instead, you get a gentle, lukewarm breeze. The fan is spinning, the wind is blowing, but the room just isn’t getting cold.

We know how frustrating this is, especially when you’re worried about your next Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) bill. In our experience servicing homes across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, this specific issue—wind but no cooling—is the most common complaint we receive. The good news is that it doesn’t always mean your unit is broken. Let’s look at the data, what it’s actually telling us, and then explore a few practical ways to respond.

1. Dirty Air Filters

This is the number one cause of airconds that blow air but don’t cool. It is also the easiest to fix yourself.

Your aircond’s filters act as the first line of defence, trapping dust, pet hair, and airborne particles. In a humid city like KL, these filters can get clogged incredibly fast. A 2025 report suggests that a dirty filter can increase your energy consumption by up to 15-25%, meaning you are paying significantly more for less cooling. When airflow is blocked, the evaporator coil cannot absorb heat effectively, leaving you with room-temperature wind.

What to Do:

• Open the front panel of your indoor unit.
• The “Torch Test”: Shine a torchlight through the filter. If you can’t see the light clearly on the other side, it’s too dirty.
• Slide out the filters and wash them under running water.
• Let them dry completely before putting them back.
• Run the aircond again and see if cooling improves.

For most homes in the Klang Valley, we recommend cleaning these filters every 2 weeks.

2. Low Refrigerant Gas

If cleaning the filters doesn’t help, the next most likely culprit is low refrigerant gas. This gas (usually R32 or R410A in newer Malaysian units) is the lifeblood of your cooling system.

There is a common myth that aircond gas needs to be topped up regularly like petrol in a car. This is false. Your aircond is a closed-loop system, meaning gas only escapes if there is a leak. If you find yourself needing a top-up every few months, you likely have a pinhole leak in your copper piping that needs sealing, not just refilling.

Signs of Low Gas:

• Air blows but isn’t cold at all.
• The copper pipes on the outdoor unit are frosted or icy white.
• The unit runs continuously but never reaches the set temperature.
• You hear a hissing or bubbling sound from the indoor unit.

What to Do:

This requires a professional technician with a manifold gauge to check the pressure. At PJ Kool, gas top-ups are included free with every chemical wash. Learn more about why we include free gas top-ups.

3. Dirty Evaporator Coil

Even if your filters are clean, the evaporator coil behind them can accumulate grime over months of use. This is especially common if you use your aircond while cooking, as grease combines with dust to form a sticky “jelly” on the coil.

When this happens, the coil cannot absorb heat, and the air blowing out remains warm. A standard general service often isn’t enough to remove this sticky buildup.

Service Type	Best For	Typical Price (1.0HP)
General Service	Regular maintenance, light dust.	RM80 - RM120
Chemical Wash	Stubborn dirt, mild smells, improving airflow.	RM120 - RM150
Chemical Overhaul	Heavy “jelly” buildup, unit dismantling required.	RM180 - RM250

What to Do:

You need a chemical wash to effectively dissolve the grime. This involves using a chemical solution to flush out the coil and drainage tray.

4. Frozen Evaporator Coil

Sometimes the evaporator coil actually freezes over completely. You might notice the air getting weaker and warmer, and if you open the cover, you’ll see a block of ice.

This usually happens due to low gas or restricted airflow, but it can also be caused by a dirty blower wheel. When the ice blocks the coil, the air cannot pass through to get cooled.

Common Causes of a Frozen Coil:

• Low refrigerant gas (most common).
• Restricted airflow from extremely dirty filters.
• Faulty blower fan motor.
• Running the unit below 16°C for extended periods.

What to Do:

1. Do not try to chip the ice away with a tool; you could puncture the delicate copper coils.
2. Turn off the cooling mode and switch to “Fan Only” mode (high speed).
3. Let it run for 1-2 hours to melt the ice naturally.
4. Once melted, clean the filters and restart. If it freezes again, call a pro.

5. Faulty Capacitor (Not Always the Compressor!)

Homeowners often fear the worst—a broken compressor—when the air isn’t cold. However, the compressor is the heart of the system and is expensive to replace (RM800+).

More often, the issue is actually a small component called the capacitor. This part acts like a battery to jump-start the compressor. If the capacitor fails, the fan will spin, but the compressor won’t kick in, resulting in warm wind. A capacitor replacement is significantly cheaper, usually costing between RM150 and RM200 including labour.

Signs of a Faulty Capacitor:

• The outdoor unit’s fan spins, but you don’t hear the deep “hum” of the compressor.
• The aircond blows warm air immediately upon startup.
• You might hear a clicking sound from the outdoor unit as it tries (and fails) to start.

What to Do:

A technician can test the microfarad reading of your capacitor. If it’s weak or dead, swapping it out restores cooling instantly.

6. Incorrect Remote Control Settings

Before calling a technician, double-check your remote control settings. It sounds obvious, but we’ve attended many service calls in PJ and KL where the issue was simply a wrong mode.

• Mode set to “Fan” or “Dry” instead of “Cool”: “Dry” mode (water drop icon) focuses on removing humidity, not lowering temperature quickly.
• Temperature set too high: If your room is 25°C and you set the remote to 26°C, the compressor will not turn on.
• Timer accidentally set: The unit might be turning off or switching modes automatically.

Pro Tip: The “Powerful” Button

If you have a Daikin or Panasonic unit, look for a “Powerful” or “Turbo” button. Pressing this forces the compressor to run at maximum capacity for 20 minutes, bypassing other settings. If the air gets cold in this mode, your unit is healthy, and the issue was likely a setting.

What to Do:

• Set the mode to “Cool” (snowflake icon).
• Set the temperature to 23-24°C (TNB recommends 24°C for the best balance of comfort and savings).
• Ensure the remote display works and batteries are fresh.

7. Blocked or Dirty Outdoor Unit

The outdoor unit (condenser) needs to “breathe” to release the heat it absorbed from your room. In many KL condos, these units are stacked in tight balcony corners.

If the unit is blocked by boxes, drying racks, or thick dust on the back fins, it cannot dissipate heat. The system will eventually overheat and stop cooling to protect itself.

What to Do:

• Ensure at least 30cm of clearance around the back and front of the outdoor unit.
• Remove any debris, leaves, or obstructions.
• If you live on a high floor, check if pigeon feathers or droppings are clogging the back fins.

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Before calling a technician, run through this checklist to save time and money:

1. The Filter Check: Are they clean? (Use the torch test).
2. The Remote Check: Is it on “Cool” mode with a snowflake icon?
3. The Sound Check: Can you hear the outdoor compressor humming?
4. The Pipe Check: Is the copper pipe on the outdoor unit frozen white?
5. The Daikin “Secret” (For Daikin users): Hold the “Cancel” button on your remote for 5 seconds until “00” blinks. Press it repeatedly until the unit beeps long. That code tells you the exact error (e.g., U4, A5).

If none of these solve the problem, it’s time to call a professional.

When to Call PJ Kool

If your aircond in PJ, KL, or anywhere in the Klang Valley is blowing air but not cold, and basic troubleshooting hasn’t helped, WhatsApp us at 012-2252 623. Our technicians can diagnose the issue quickly, whether it’s a simple capacitor swap or a necessary gas top-up, and provide a transparent quote before proceeding.

Visit our aircond repair service page for more information on our diagnostic and repair services.