When it’s scorching outside, you trust your AC system to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioner taking too long to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which push your cooling harder than usual. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioning is still having a tough time, your HVAC system could have a problem. Try these tips to help you resolve the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioning system takes too long to lower the temperature of the house. The function of a filter is to capture airborne debris that can damage your HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even capture very small airborne contaminants to enhance indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes stuffed 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 lead to larger energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and change it if it appears dirty. Try not to wait over three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where your air filter can be found, talk to your HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your cooling to function effectively. Then, you have to set it correctly to maintain a nice temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Parker Pearce Service Experts for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners come with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to hold onto heat properly if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool down the house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this visit consists of removing dust and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle requires moving heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching vegetation, the cooling cycle may be less efficient.
Solution: Gently hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to improve ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the secret to effective cooling. Normally, this substance flows in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC specialists for help at once.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and an excessive amount of dust around the house, contact Parker Pearce Service Experts to take a look at your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only move around your home as long as the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, leading to increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or drapes.
Aging or Poorly Sized Air Conditioner
Did you put in your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the system becomes less efficient and might fail to maintain comfortable temperatures. Additionally, have you recently completed a home extension or made other improvements? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an old or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Trust our licensed HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Parker Pearce Service Experts
If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, feel free to contact the HVAC specialists at Parker Pearce Service Experts. We deliver fast, efficient services to get your cooling back up and running as soon as possible. You can rest easy knowing our technicians stick to the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.