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 forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than normal. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioning is still struggling, 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 likely reason an air conditioner needs too much time to cool the house. The function of a filter is to trap airborne particles that could harm your HVAC equipment. More effective filters even catch very small airborne allergens to increase indoor air quality.

Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making the AC unit take longer to cool down the house, this issue can also result in higher energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter once a month and change it if it appears dirty. Try not to wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where an air filter is located, ask an HVAC technician at your next service appointment.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat must be compatible with your air conditioner to function properly. Then, you must set it correctly to reach a comfortable temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.

Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable options, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 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 soaks up heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take longer to cool your house.

Solution: Call our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this visit involves removing dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

The cooling cycle involves sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat away from your home. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching plants, the cooling process may be less successful.

Solution: Carefully clean the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to increase airflow.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is the secret to effective cooling. Normally, this substance travels in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.

Solution: Only a qualified technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you’re dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC specialists for help right away.

Leaky Ductwork

Air ducts are the arteries and veins 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 high amounts of dust inside the house, get ahold of Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cooled air can only flow throughout your home if the air vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, contributing to additional breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Check the vents in each room, making sure they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpeting or drapes.

Outdated or Undersized Air Conditioning System

Did you put in your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the AC becomes less efficient and can fail to maintain a comfortable home. Additionally, have you recently completed a home extension or made other improvements? This can result in an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.

Solution: The only fix for an old or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Trust our licensed HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.

Schedule AC Repair with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, don’t hesitate to call in the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We supply fast, effective services to get your AC back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.