Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s hot outside, you count on your air conditioner to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioning taking too long to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which squeeze your AC system harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your cooling is still struggling, your air conditioner might have a problem. Try these tips to help you troubleshoot the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioning system takes too long to cool the house. The function of a filter is to snare airborne contaminants that could cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even trap tiny airborne particles to enhance indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting the flow of air. Besides making your air conditioner take more time to cool down the house, this situation can also produce higher energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and change it if it appears dirty. Don't wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where an air filter is, talk to an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat must be compatible with your air conditioner to run properly. Then, you have to set it correctly to maintain a cozy temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable options, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, call an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take longer to cool your house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this call includes cleaning out dust and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle will require transporting heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat into the outdoor air. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching plants, the cooling process may be less successful.
Solution: Carefully hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to improve ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to a cool home. Usually, this substance travels in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a qualified technician can fix refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call our HVAC experts for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you experience uneven temperatures and excessive dust in the house, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only move around your home if the vents are open and free from any obstructions. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, resulting in more breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpets or window treatments.
Old or Poorly Sized Air Conditioning System
Did you put in your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the system becomes less efficient and could struggle to maintain steady cooling. Furthermore, have you recently built a home extension or made other alterations? This may lead to an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.
Solution: The only solution for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Count 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, don't hesitate to call in the HVAC specialists at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We deliver fast, efficient service to get your cooling back up and running as soon as possible. Rest assured that our technicians adhere to the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.
