When it’s hot outside, you rely on your air conditioner to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioning taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your AC system harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your cooling is still having a hard time, your HVAC system might have a problem. Use these tips to help you diagnose the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioning system needs too much time to cool down the house. The function of a filter is to capture airborne debris that could harm sensitive HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even catch tiny airborne particles to enhance indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making the air conditioning system take a long time to cool down the house, this issue can also result in larger energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and replace 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 your air filter can be found, ask an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your air conditioner to run correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to maintain a comfortable temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, want help learning about programmable features, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, call an HVAC technician at Broad Ripple Service Experts for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take longer 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 maintenance involves removing debris and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle involves sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat away from your home. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching yard waste, the cooling cycle could be less efficient.
Solution: Lightly hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to enhance circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the key to effective cooling. Typically, this substance moves in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a qualified technician can mend refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you suspect this problem, call our HVAC experts for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side can 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 in touch with Broad Ripple Service Experts 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 when the vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpeting or curtains.
Aging or Undersized AC System
Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the system becomes less efficient and might be unable to maintain comfortable temperatures. Additionally, have you recently finished a home addition or made other improvements? This may lead to an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Count on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Broad Ripple Service Experts
If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, feel free to bring in the HVAC experts at Broad Ripple Service Experts. We supply fast, efficient support to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians follow the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.