When it’s scorching outside, you depend on your cooling to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioner taking a long time to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which squeeze your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your cooling is still having a hard time, your air conditioning might have a problem. Use these tips to help you resolve the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioner takes too long to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to catch airborne pollutants that might harm your HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even capture tiny airborne allergens to improve indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting the flow of air. Besides making your air conditioner take a long time to cool down the house, this problem can also produce more expensive energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and exchange it if it seems dirty. Try not to wait over three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where your air filter is located, ask your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to function properly. Then, you must set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, want help learning about programmable options, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, call an HVAC technician at A1 Chesney Service Experts for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to hold onto heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool down the house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this maintenance involves removing debris and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle will require sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat into the outdoor air. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching plants, the cooling process may be less successful.
Solution: Carefully hose off the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the key to effective cooling. Usually, this substance flows 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 releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call our HVAC pros for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner perform harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you experience irregular temperatures and an excessive amount of dust in the house, call A1 Chesney Service Experts to examine your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only circulate throughout your home if the supply and return vents are open and clear. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents in each room, seeing to it that they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or curtains.
Old or Poorly Sized Air Conditioning System
Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the AC becomes less efficient and can struggle to maintain a comfortable home. Furthermore, have you recently finished a home extension or made other improvements? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that won't always keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an old or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Trust our certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with A1 Chesney Service Experts
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, it’s time to call in the HVAC experts at A1 Chesney Service Experts. We provide fast, effective services to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians stick to the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.