When it’s sizzling outside, you count on your air conditioner to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioning taking forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your AC system harder than normal. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a tough time, your cooling equipment may have a problem. Follow these tips to help you resolve the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioner takes too long to cool the house. The function of a filter is to snare airborne contaminants that could damage delicate HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even trap tiny airborne allergens to enhance indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making the air conditioner take more time to cool down the house, this situation can also result in higher energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and replace it if it looks dirty. Don't wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where an air filter is located, ask your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat must be compatible with your air conditioner to work correctly. Then, you must set it correctly to maintain a comfortable temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides 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 Fras-Air/General Service Experts for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Call our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this maintenance involves clearing away debris and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle will require transporting heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat into the outdoor air. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching plants, the cooling process may be less effective.
Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the key to air conditioning. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a qualified technician can mend refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you suspect this problem, call up our HVAC professionals for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner run harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you experience irregular temperatures and an excessive amount of dust around the house, contact Fras-Air/General Service Experts to inspect your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only move around your home as long as the vents are open and free from any obstructions. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, contributing to increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or window treatments.
Outdated or Inadequately Sized AC System
Did you install your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the system becomes less effective and could struggle to maintain comfortable temperatures. Likewise, have you recently finished a home addition or made other alterations? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that won't always keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Depend on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Fras-Air/General Service Experts
If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, it’s time to bring in the HVAC experts at Fras-Air/General Service Experts. We provide fast, efficient service to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. Rest assured that our technicians follow the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.