Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s sizzling outside, you trust your air conditioner to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioning taking forever to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which strain your air conditioner harder than usual. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your cooling is still having a tough time, your air conditioning may have a problem. Follow these tips to help you resolve the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioning system needs more time to lower the temperature of the house. The function of a filter is to catch airborne pollutants that may harm sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture tiny airborne particles to improve indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making an air conditioning system take more time to cool down the house, this issue can also lead to higher energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and change it if it seems dirty. Don’t wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where an air filter is located, talk to your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat must be compatible with your cooling to function correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a comfortable temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, require help learning about programmable settings, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to soak up heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take longer to cool your house.
Solution: Call our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance includes clearing away debris and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle will require transporting warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat into the outdoor air. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling cycle might be less successful.
Solution: Gently hose down the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to a cool home. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC pros for help right away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner run harder and longer to cool your home.
Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and high amounts of dust in the house, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only circulate around your home as long as the 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 in every room, ensuring they’re open and unblocked by furniture, rugs or curtains.
Old or Poorly Sized AC System
Did you set up your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the system becomes less efficient and can be unable to maintain a comfortable home. Likewise, have you recently built a home extension or made other alterations? This might leave you with an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Trust our licensed 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 still proves ineffective, feel free to bring in the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We deliver fast, efficient service to get your cooling back up and running as quickly as possible. Rest assured that our technicians practice the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.
