When it’s sizzling outside, you rely on your AC system to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioning taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your AC system harder than usual. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioning is still struggling, your air conditioner may have a problem. Follow these tips to help you diagnose the matter.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an AC system needs too much time to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to trap airborne contaminants that may damage delicate HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even capture microscopic airborne contaminants to increase indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing circulation. Besides making the air conditioning system take longer to cool down the house, this situation can also lead to higher energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and exchange it if it looks dirty. Try not to wait over three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where the air filter can be found, check with your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your air conditioner to run effectively. Then, you must set it correctly to maintain a cozy temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, want help learning about programmable features, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Levy & Son Service Experts for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to cool your house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this visit includes cleaning out dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
A cooling cycle involves moving heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching yard waste, the cooling process may be less successful.
Solution: Gently hose down the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to effective cooling. Typically, this substance travels in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call up our HVAC experts for help straight away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner run harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you are dealing with uneven temperatures and excessive dust inside the house, contact Levy & Son Service Experts to inspect your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only move around your home when the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, resulting in increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, making sure they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or window treatments.
Aging or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioner
Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the AC becomes less effective and may be unable to maintain a comfortable home. Additionally, have you recently completed a home add-on or made other changes? This can leave you with an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Depend on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Levy & Son Service Experts
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, it’s time to bring in the HVAC professionals at Levy & Son Service Experts. We provide fast, efficient support to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. Rest assured that our technicians adhere to the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.