Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s sizzling outside, you depend on your cooling to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioner taking a long time to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which squeeze your cooling harder than usual. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your air conditioning is still having a tough time, your air conditioning might have a problem. Use these tips to help you diagnose the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an AC system needs too much time to cool down the house. The function of a filter is to capture airborne particles that can cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture very small airborne particles to increase indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting circulation. Besides making your air conditioner take more time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce higher energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and exchange it if it appears dirty. Try not to wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where your air filter is located, talk to a local HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to function correctly. Then, you have to set it correctly to sustain a nice temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, get in touch with 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 features the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat properly if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool down the house.
Solution: Call our HVAC specialists to tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this call includes a cleanliness check for debris and grime around the evaporator coil. If debris is found, the evaporator coil can be cleaned to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
A cooling cycle involves transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat to the exterior. However, 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 get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to increase circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to effective cooling. Normally, this substance flows in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms 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 mend refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you suspect this problem, call up our HVAC specialists for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner run harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and high amounts of dust throughout the house, contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to examine your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only flow throughout your home if the air vents are open and clear. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, contributing to more breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in each room, seeing to it that they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpets or drapes.
Outdated or Inadequately Sized AC System
Did you set up your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the AC becomes less efficient and can be unable to maintain comfortable temperatures. Furthermore, have you recently finished a home extension or made other alterations? This might lead to an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Trust our trained 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, don’t hesitate to call in the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We deliver fast, effective support to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians adhere to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.
