Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s scorching outside, you depend on your air conditioner to keep things comfortable inside. But is your AC taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than usual. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your cooling is still struggling, your air conditioning may have a problem. Use these tips to help you diagnose the matter.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an AC system needs more time to cool down the house. The function of a filter is to trap airborne pollutants that may cause problems for sensitive HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even trap tiny airborne contaminants to increase indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making your AC unit take a long time to cool down the house, this problem can also lead to higher energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and replace it if it looks dirty. Try not to wait past three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where the air filter is located, talk to an HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to function correctly. Then, you have to set it correctly to maintain a nice temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners come with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool your house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC professionals to tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance consists of a cleanliness check for debris and grime around the evaporator coil. If debris is found, the evaporator coil can be cleaned to improve cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system’s cooling cycle will require sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling process could be less effective.
Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to improve circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to effective cooling. Typically, this substance flows in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can correct refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC specialists for help at once.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner run harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and excessive dust around the house, contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to take a look at your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only circulate throughout your home if the vents are open and clear. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents all through the house, ensuring they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpets or window treatments.
Old or Inadequately Sized AC System
Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the AC becomes less effective and can struggle to maintain a comfortable home. Additionally, have you recently built a home addition or made other changes? This can leave you with an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Depend on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, it’s time to call in the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We deliver fast, reliable support to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians stick to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.
