Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s hot outside, you depend on your air conditioner to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioner 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 especially hot outside and your cooling is still having a tough time, 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 conditioning system needs too much time to cool down the house. The purpose of a filter is to trap airborne pollutants that can harm your HVAC equipment. More effective filters even catch microscopic airborne particles to increase indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting circulation. Besides making your air conditioning system take more time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce more expensive energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter every month and exchange it if it looks dirty. Don't wait over three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where an air filter can be found, check with an HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat must be compatible with your AC system to run effectively. Then, you have to set it correctly to maintain a cozy temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, need help learning about programmable settings, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, call 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 soaks up heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take longer to cool your house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this maintenance involves clearing away dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle involves moving heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat to the exterior. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling cycle may be less efficient.
Solution: Lightly hose down the outdoor unit to remove 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. 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 more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC specialists for help straight away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and high amounts of dust in the house, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to examine your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only move around your home as long as the vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents all through the house, making sure they’re open and unblocked by furniture, rugs or drapes.
Outdated or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioning System
Did you set up your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the AC becomes less effective and might fail to maintain comfortable temperatures. Furthermore, have you recently finished a home addition or made other improvements? This might leave you with an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. 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, it’s time to contact the HVAC experts at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide fast, reliable services to get your cooling back up and running as soon as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians follow the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.
