Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s hot outside, you count on your cooling to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioner taking forever to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which strain your AC system harder than normal. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioning is still having a tough time, your air conditioner might 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 lower the temperature of the house. The purpose of a filter is to trap airborne pollutants that might damage delicate HVAC equipment. More effective filters even trap microscopic airborne allergens to increase indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting airflow. Besides making your AC unit take more 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 every month and exchange it if it seems dirty. Try not to wait more than three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where an air filter is located, check with your HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to work correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a comfortable temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable settings, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, call an HVAC technician at Knochelmann Service Experts for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat properly if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take longer to cool down the house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this call includes removing debris and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle will require 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 vegetation, the cooling cycle can be less effective.
Solution: Carefully hose down the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to increase airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is an essential tool to effective cooling. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can fix refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC pros for help straight away.
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 work harder and longer to cool your home.
Solution: If you experience uneven temperatures and an excessive amount of dust inside the house, get in touch with Knochelmann Service Experts to take a look at your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only circulate around your home if the air vents are open and free from any obstructions. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or window treatments.
Outdated or Undersized Air Conditioning System
Did you put in your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less efficient and can fail to maintain a comfortable home. Additionally, have you recently built a home add-on or made other modifications? This may leave you with an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only solution for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Depend on our qualified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Knochelmann Service Experts
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, it’s time to call in the HVAC professionals at Knochelmann Service Experts. We supply fast, efficient services to get your AC back up and running as soon as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians stick to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.
