When it’s scorching outside, you trust your cooling to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioning 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 very hot outside and your air conditioning is still having a tough time, your air conditioning may have a problem. Use these tips to help you troubleshoot the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an AC system needs more time to cool the house. The purpose of a filter is to catch airborne debris that could damage your HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even catch tiny airborne particles to enhance indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making your air conditioning system take longer to cool down the house, this issue can also produce larger energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and exchange it if it appears dirty. Don't wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where the air filter is, ask your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to function properly. Then, you have to set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Implementing 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 don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to hold onto heat effectively if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take more time to cool down the house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this maintenance involves removing dust and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle requires sending heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat to the exterior. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching yard waste, the cooling cycle can be less effective.
Solution: Carefully hose off the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to increase airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is an essential tool to effective cooling. Usually, this substance flows in a closed loop between 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 dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can repair refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you suspect this problem, get in touch with our HVAC experts for help straight away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and high amounts of dust in the house, get in touch with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only flow around your home if the vents are open and clear. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, resulting in increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents in each room, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or drapes.
Old or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioner
Did you set up your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the system becomes less efficient and could be unable to maintain a comfortable home. Furthermore, have you recently built a home add-on or made other improvements? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only solution for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Count on 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 attempts prove ineffective, don't hesitate to contact the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We supply fast, efficient support to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.