Why Isn’t My Condo AC Cooling? Top Reasons Toronto Residents Face AC Problems

When the summer heat hits Toronto, condo residents rely on their fan coil units for cooling. But what happens when you turn on your AC — and all you get is warm air or weak airflow?

This is one of the most common service calls we receive at Hudson HVAC. If your condo’s AC isn’t cooling properly, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll explain the top reasons condo air conditioning systems fail, how to fix them, and what you can do to prevent breakdowns in the first place.

How Condo Air Conditioning Works in Toronto

Most Toronto condominiums don’t use traditional furnaces or central AC systems. Instead, they rely on fan coil units connected to a building-wide water loop:

• In summer, chilled water is circulated through the system to provide cooling.
• In winter, hot water flows through the same pipes to provide heating.

Your in-suite fan coil unit pulls air across coils containing this chilled or heated water, then circulates conditioned air into your condo.

If something in this process goes wrong, your condo won’t cool properly.

Top Reasons Your Condo AC Isn’t Cooling

1. Dirty or Clogged Air Filter

• Air filters trap dust and debris, but when clogged, they block airflow.
• This reduces cooling efficiency and can make your fan coil blow warm air instead of cold.
• In many condos, filters haven’t been changed in months — sometimes years.

Solution: Replace or clean filters every 3–6 months. At Hudson HVAC, we include this as part of every maintenance visit.

2. Blocked or Dirty Coils

• Dust, dirt, and even mold can build up on the coils inside your fan coil unit.
• When this happens, the unit can’t transfer heat properly, leading to weak cooling.
• You may also notice musty smells when the unit runs.

Solution: Professional coil cleaning at least once per year. This improves cooling performance and indoor air quality.

3. Malfunctioning Thermostat

• A faulty thermostat may fail to send the right signals to your fan coil.
• Symptoms: the fan runs but the air never gets cool, or the unit cycles on and off too frequently.

Solution: Thermostat inspection and calibration. In some cases, upgrading to a smart thermostat can improve accuracy and reduce hydro costs.

4. Building Chiller System Issues

• In Toronto condos, cooling depends on the central chiller operated by property management.
• If the building delays the switch from heating to cooling in spring, residents may experience weeks of warm units during sudden heat waves.
• Similarly, if the chiller is underperforming, individual units will blow lukewarm air.

Solution: Confirm with management whether the chiller system is online. If it is, but your suite isn’t cooling, call Hudson HVAC to inspect your fan coil.

5. Clogged Drain Pan or Water Leaks

• Condensation builds up in your fan coil during cooling. If the drain pan or line clogs, it can trigger safety sensors that shut down your unit.
• Left unchecked, this can also lead to water damage in your suite and common areas.

Solution: Annual drain line flushing and leak inspection.

6. Aging Equipment

• Many Toronto condos built in the 1990s and 2000s still rely on their original fan coils.
• After 20–25 years, efficiency drops, parts fail, and cooling performance declines.
• Replacement may be the only long-term solution.

Solution: Replace aging units with modern fan coil systems. Hudson HVAC offers discounted group replacement programs for condo boards and residents.

What You Can Do as a Condo Resident

1. Check your filter – replace it if dirty.
2. Ensure vents are clear – don’t block them with furniture.
3. Ask management if the building chiller is on.
4. Schedule annual maintenance with a licensed HVAC company.
5. Consider upgrading if your unit is 20+ years old.

The Cost of Fan Coil Maintenance vs. Replacement in Toronto

• Annual maintenance visit: $150–$300 per unit
• Minor repairs (thermostats, sensors, drain cleaning): $200–$500
• Single fan coil replacement (cooling only): $4,000–$6,500
• Double fan coil replacement: $7,500–$11,000

Maintenance may seem like an expense, but compared to replacement, it’s an investment that pays off.

How Hudson HVAC Helps Toronto Condo Residents

At Hudson Condominium Solutions, we’ve serviced over 100 condo towers across Toronto, Mississauga, and Scarborough.

Our services include:

• Preventive fan coil maintenance programs
• Emergency AC repair and leak response
• Resident discount programs in Hudson Partner Buildings
• Full fan coil replacement and retrofit services

When your AC isn’t cooling, we can quickly diagnose whether it’s a suite-level issue or a building-wide problem. Contact Hudson HVAC at (437) 448-0640 for help.

• Tags:
• Toronto Condos
• HVAC
• Fan Coil Maintenance
• Condo Air Conditioning
• Hudson HVAC
• Property Management