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

When it’s scorching outside, you depend on your AC system to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioning taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which squeeze your AC system harder than normal. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your cooling is still having a hard time, your HVAC system could have a problem. Follow these tips to help you troubleshoot the issue.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioning system takes too long to cool down the house. The purpose of a filter is to trap airborne particles that could harm delicate HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even capture microscopic airborne contaminants to improve indoor air quality.

Over time, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing airflow. Besides making your air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this problem can also produce larger energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter once a month and exchange it if it appears dirty. Try not to wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where the air filter is, check with an HVAC technician at your next service appointment.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat must be compatible with your cooling to run properly. Then, you have to set it correctly to sustain a nice temperature. Installing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.

Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable settings, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for help.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take more time to cool your house.

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

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

The cooling cycle involves sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat to the exterior. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching yard waste, the cooling cycle could be less effective.

Solution: Lightly hose down the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost airflow.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is an essential tool to a cool home. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.

Solution: Only a trained technician can repair refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call up our HVAC professionals for help straight away.

Leaky Ductwork

Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to cool your home.

Solution: If you are dealing with inconsistent temperatures and excessive dust inside the house, get in touch with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to take a look at your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Conditioned air can only move through your home when the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Take a look at the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or window treatments.

Old or Poorly Sized AC System

Did you put in your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the unit becomes less efficient and may be unable to maintain steady cooling. Additionally, have you recently finished a home add-on or made other improvements? This could lead to an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.

Solution: The only fix for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Depend on 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 attempts prove ineffective, it’s time to bring in the HVAC specialists at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We deliver fast, reliable service to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.

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