When it’s hot outside, you depend on your air conditioner to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioning taking forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your air conditioning might have a problem. Use these tips to help you resolve the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioning system needs too much time to cool the house. The purpose of a filter is to capture airborne particles that can damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even catch microscopic airborne contaminants to increase indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making your air conditioning system take a long time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce more expensive energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter every month and replace it if it looks dirty. Try not to wait past three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where an air filter is located, ask your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your air conditioner to work effectively. Then, you need to set it correctly to sustain a nice temperature. Installing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, want help learning about programmable features, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, contact an HVAC technician at Teays Valley Service Experts for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to hold onto heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool your house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance involves clearing away dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle requires moving heated 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 process can be less effective.
Solution: Lightly hose off the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to improve airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the key to effective cooling. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms 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 recharge the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC specialists for help in no time.
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 cool your home.
Solution: If you are dealing with irregular temperatures and excessive dust throughout the house, get in touch with Teays Valley Service Experts to take a look at your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only flow throughout your home when the supply and return vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in each room, seeing to it that they’re open and not blocked by furniture, rugs or drapes.
Aging or Inadequately Sized AC System
Did you set up your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the unit becomes less effective and can fail to maintain a comfortable home. Likewise, have you recently built a home addition or made other alterations? This may 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 certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Teays Valley Service Experts
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, feel free to bring in the HVAC specialists at Teays Valley Service Experts. We deliver fast, reliable service to get your HVAC system back up and running as quickly as possible. Rest assured that our technicians follow the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.