When it’s hot outside, you rely on your AC system to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioning taking forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your AC is still struggling, your air conditioner may have a problem. Follow these tips to help you diagnose the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an AC system needs more time to lower the temperature of the house. The purpose of a filter is to capture airborne pollutants that could harm your HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even capture tiny airborne contaminants to improve indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing airflow. Besides making the air conditioning system take more time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce higher energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and replace it if it seems dirty. Don't wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where an air filter can be found, check with a local HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to work properly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Installing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, need help learning about programmable options, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, call an HVAC technician at Climate Control Service Experts for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool your house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this maintenance involves removing dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
A cooling cycle will require moving warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching yard waste, the cooling cycle can be less effective.
Solution: Lightly hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to boost airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is an essential tool to air conditioning. Typically, this substance travels in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a qualified technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you suspect this problem, call our HVAC pros for help at once.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner run harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you experience irregular temperatures and excessive dust inside the house, get in touch with Climate Control Service Experts to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only flow around your home if the vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpeting or window treatments.
Outdated or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioning System
Did you put in your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the unit becomes less effective and can be unable to maintain steady cooling. Additionally, have you recently finished a home addition or made other changes? This might leave you with 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 exchange it. Trust our certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Climate Control Service Experts
If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, don't hesitate to bring in the HVAC pros at Climate Control Service Experts. We provide fast, reliable support to get your cooling back up and running as quickly as possible. Rest assured that our technicians practice the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.