When it’s hot outside, you depend on your AC system to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioning taking forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your AC system harder than usual. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a hard time, your cooling equipment might 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 conditioner needs more time to cool the house. The job of a filter is to catch airborne pollutants that could damage your HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture tiny airborne allergens to enhance indoor air quality.
As time passes, 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 situation can also result in larger energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter every month and replace it if it looks dirty. Try not to wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where an air filter is located, ask an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to run properly. Then, you have to set it correctly to reach a nice temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, need help learning about programmable settings, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, call an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to absorb heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to cool down the house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this visit involves removing debris and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle will require moving heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching plants, the cooling process could be less successful.
Solution: Gently hose down the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to boost ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the secret to air conditioning. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can correct refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call our HVAC experts for help right 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 work harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you are dealing with inconsistent temperatures and an excessive amount of dust throughout the house, get in touch with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only move through your home if the air vents are open and free from any obstructions. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, leading to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, rugs or drapes.
Outdated or Poorly Sized Air Conditioning System
Did you set up your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the AC becomes less effective and might struggle to maintain a comfortable home. Furthermore, have you recently built a home add-on or made other alterations? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only solution for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Depend on 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 attempts prove ineffective, don't hesitate to call in the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We deliver fast, effective services to get your AC back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians stick to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.