When it’s hot outside, you trust your cooling to keep things cool inside. But is your AC taking a long time to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which strain your cooling harder than usual. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your AC is still having a tough time, your HVAC system could have a problem. Follow these tips to help you resolve the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an AC system needs more time to cool the house. The function of a filter is to capture airborne pollutants that could harm your HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even catch tiny airborne particles to improve indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing circulation. Besides making an air conditioning system take a long time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce larger energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and exchange it if it appears dirty. Don't wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where your air filter can be found, check with your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to work correctly. Then, you must set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.
Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, require help learning about programmable settings, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, call an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to hold onto heat properly if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool your house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this visit involves clearing away dust and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle involves moving hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat away from your home. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching yard waste, the cooling cycle could be less efficient.
Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to boost airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to effective cooling. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can mend refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC professionals for help right away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner work harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you are dealing with irregular temperatures and excessive dust inside the house, contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to examine your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only move around your home when the vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpets or window treatments.
Old or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioner
Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the system becomes less efficient and may fail to maintain steady cooling. Likewise, have you recently finished a home extension or made other alterations? This might result in an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Trust 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 still proves ineffective, it’s time to contact the HVAC specialists at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We supply fast, effective services to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians follow the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.