When it’s hot 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 AC system harder than normal. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your cooling is still struggling, your cooling equipment might have a problem. Try these tips to help you troubleshoot the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioner needs more time to lower the temperature of the house. The job of a filter is to trap airborne contaminants that can harm sensitive HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even capture very small airborne contaminants to improve indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting the flow of air. Besides making the air conditioning system take a long time to cool down the house, this issue can also lead to more expensive energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and change it if it seems dirty. Try not to wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where an air filter can be found, ask your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your cooling to function properly. Then, you need to set it correctly to sustain a comfortable temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, need help learning about programmable options, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to soak up heat effectively if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take longer to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this call consists of removing debris and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle will require transporting heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat into the outdoor air. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching plants, the cooling process might be less efficient.
Solution: Lightly hose off 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 boost ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the secret to air conditioning. Typically, this substance travels in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a qualified technician can mend refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call up our HVAC specialists for help at once.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner run harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you are dealing with irregular temperatures and excessive dust throughout the house, get ahold of Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only move through your home as long as the supply and return vents are open and clear. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents all through the house, ensuring they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
Outdated or Poorly Sized Air Conditioner
Did you set up your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less efficient and could struggle to maintain steady cooling. Additionally, have you recently built a home add-on or made other changes? This can result in an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Trust our certified 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 efforts prove ineffective, it’s time to call in the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide fast, reliable services to get your HVAC system back up and running as quickly as possible. Rest assured that our technicians practice the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.