Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?

When it’s scorching outside, you rely on your AC system to keep things comfortable inside. But is your AC taking a long time to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which squeeze your AC system harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a hard time, your HVAC system might have a problem. Try these tips to help you troubleshoot the issue.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioning system takes too long to lower the temperature of the house. The purpose of a filter is to snare airborne contaminants that can cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even capture microscopic airborne contaminants to enhance indoor air quality.

Over time, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting airflow. Besides making your AC unit take more time to cool down the house, this situation can also result in more expensive energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter each month and exchange it if it seems dirty. Don’t wait more than three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where your air filter is located, check with your HVAC technician at your next service visit.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your air conditioner to work effectively. Then, you must set it correctly to maintain a cozy temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.

Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, call 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 contains the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool your house.

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this visit involves removing dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

The cooling cycle involves transporting warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat into the outdoor air. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching vegetation, the cooling process can be less efficient.

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

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is vital to a cool home. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop 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 qualified technician can repair refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call up our HVAC specialists for help at once.

Leaky Ductwork

Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner run harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.

Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and an excessive amount of dust throughout the house, get ahold of Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to examine your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cool air can only circulate through your home as long as the supply and return vents are open and clear. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to increased breakdowns and repair costs.

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

Outdated or Poorly Sized AC System

Did you put in your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the system becomes less effective and can fail to maintain comfortable temperatures. Additionally, have you recently finished a home addition or made other modifications? This might leave you with an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only fix for an old or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Count on our certified 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, it’s time to bring in the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We supply fast, reliable support to get your cooling back up and running as soon as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians practice the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.