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 cool inside. But is your air conditioner taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your cooling is still struggling, your HVAC system may 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 purpose of a filter is to trap airborne debris that can cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More effective filters even trap microscopic airborne allergens to increase indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing airflow. Besides making an air conditioning system take longer to cool down the house, this situation can also result in higher energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter every month and change it if it appears dirty. Try not to wait longer than three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where your air filter can be found, ask a local HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to run correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool your house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this maintenance includes clearing away dust and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle involves sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat into the outdoor air. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling cycle may be less effective.
Solution: Carefully hose off 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 increase airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the key to effective cooling. Normally, this substance travels in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can fix refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you suspect this problem, call up our HVAC professionals for help straight away.
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 perform harder and longer to cool your home.
Solution: If you are dealing with 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
Cooled air can only move throughout your home if the supply and return vents are open and free from any obstructions. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, contributing to more breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or drapes.
Outdated or Undersized Air Conditioning System
Did you install your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the system becomes less efficient and might struggle to maintain a comfortable home. Likewise, have you recently built a home add-on or made other alterations? This might result in an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. 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 bring in the HVAC experts at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We deliver fast, effective support to get your HVAC system back up and running as quickly as possible. You can rest easy knowing 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 any other HVAC services today.
