When it’s scorching outside, you rely on your AC system to keep things cool inside. But is your AC taking forever to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which squeeze your AC system harder than usual. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your air conditioning is still having a hard time, your cooling equipment could have a problem. Follow these tips to help you troubleshoot the matter.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioner needs more time to lower the temperature of the house. The function of a filter is to capture airborne particles that might cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even capture tiny airborne particles to increase indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing circulation. Besides making your air conditioning system take more time to cool down the house, this problem can also produce larger energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter every month and exchange it if it seems dirty. Don't wait more than three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where your air filter is located, check with an HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to run effectively. Then, you have to set it correctly to reach a nice temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to cool your house.
Solution: contact our HVAC experts to tune up your air conditioner. An element of this call involves a cleanliness check for dust and grime around the evaporator coil. If debris is found, the evaporator coil can be cleaned to enhance cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle requires sending heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat away from your home. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching yard waste, the cooling process might be less successful.
Solution: Gently clean the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to improve airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the secret to a cool home. Usually, this substance travels in a closed loop among 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 repair refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC experts for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner run harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and excessive dust inside the house, get in touch with Service Experts to examine your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only flow throughout your home if the air vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents in each room, ensuring they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or window treatments.
Old or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioner
Did you set up your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the AC becomes less effective and might fail to maintain steady cooling. Likewise, have you recently finished a home add-on or made other changes? This may leave you with an undersized air conditioner that won't always keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Depend on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Service Experts
If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, don't hesitate to call in the HVAC experts at Service Experts. We provide fast, reliable support to get your AC back up and running as quickly as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians adhere to the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.
