Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s scorching outside, you trust your AC system to keep things cool inside. But is your AC taking too long to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which push your AC system harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your cooling is still having a hard time, your cooling equipment might have a problem. Follow these tips to help you diagnose the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioning system takes too long to lower the temperature of the house. The function of a filter is to snare airborne debris that could cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even capture microscopic airborne contaminants to increase indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making the air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this issue can also lead to more expensive energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter every month and change it if it looks dirty. Don't wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where an air filter can be found, talk to an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat must be compatible with your AC system to run properly. Then, you need to set it correctly to maintain a nice temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, want help learning about programmable features, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, contact an HVAC technician at R & M Climate Control Service Experts for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to hold onto heat effectively if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool your house.
Solution: Call our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this visit consists of clearing away dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
A cooling cycle requires moving warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat away from your home. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching plants, the cooling process can be less effective.
Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to enhance airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to effective cooling. Usually, this substance flows in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you suspect this problem, get in touch with our HVAC experts for help at once.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner perform harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and an excessive amount of dust throughout the house, get in touch with R & M Climate Control Service Experts to examine your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only move through your home as long as the air vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, contributing to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in each room, ensuring they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpeting or window treatments.
Aging or Poorly Sized Air Conditioning System
Did you install your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the system becomes less efficient and might fail to maintain comfortable temperatures. Furthermore, have you recently built a home extension or made other alterations? This may lead to an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an old 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 R & M Climate Control Service Experts
If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, feel free to bring in the HVAC specialists at R & M Climate Control Service Experts. We provide fast, effective 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 care to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.
