When it’s sizzling outside, you trust 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 squeeze your cooling harder than normal. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a hard time, your air conditioner could have a problem. Use these tips to help you diagnose the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioning system needs too much time to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to catch airborne particles that can damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture microscopic airborne allergens to improve indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing airflow. Besides making the AC unit take a long time to cool down the house, this situation can also produce higher energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and change it if it seems dirty. Don't wait over three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where the air filter is located, ask your HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to work correctly. Then, you have to set it correctly to sustain a comfortable temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, require help learning about programmable settings, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners come with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this visit consists of removing dust and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
A cooling cycle will require sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat into the outdoor air. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling process can be less effective.
Solution: Carefully hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the secret to air conditioning. Usually, this substance travels in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can mend refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC experts for help right away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner work harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you are dealing with inconsistent temperatures and an excessive amount of dust around the house, get in touch with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to take a look at your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only move throughout your home when the vents are open and unobstructed. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, contributing to increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in every room, making sure they’re open and not blocked by furniture, rugs or curtains.
Old or Poorly Sized Air Conditioner
Did you install your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the AC becomes less efficient and could struggle to maintain steady cooling. Additionally, have you recently finished a home add-on or made other modifications? 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 swap it out. Trust our qualified 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 still proves ineffective, don't hesitate to bring in the HVAC specialists at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We supply fast, effective support to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. You can count on the fact that our technicians follow the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.