Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s scorching outside, you rely on your cooling to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioner taking too long to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which strain your AC system harder than average. 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 troubleshoot the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioner needs too much time to lower the temperature of the house. The job of a filter is to catch airborne contaminants that could damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even trap microscopic airborne contaminants to enhance indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting circulation. Besides making the AC unit take more time to cool down the house, this situation can also produce more expensive energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and replace it if it seems dirty. Don’t wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where an air filter is located, check with an HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your air conditioner to work effectively. Then, you must set it correctly to sustain a cozy temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, want help learning about programmable settings, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners come with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Call our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance involves removing debris and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle involves moving warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat away from your home. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching vegetation, the cooling process might be less effective.
Solution: Carefully hose down the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to increase ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is an essential tool to a cool home. Usually, this substance flows in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can correct refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you think you’re dealing 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 could make your air conditioner work harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and an excessive amount of dust around the house, get in touch with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to take a look at your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only circulate throughout your home if the vents are open and free from any obstructions. Closing too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, contributing to increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents in each room, ensuring they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or drapes.
Old or Undersized Air Conditioner
Did you put in your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the AC becomes less efficient and might fail to maintain steady cooling. Furthermore, have you recently built a home addition or made other improvements? This could lead to an undersized air conditioner that won’t always keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Depend on our certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing
If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, feel free to contact the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide fast, efficient service to get your AC back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians practice the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.
