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 comfortable inside. But is your AC taking a long time to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than usual. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a tough time, your HVAC system could have a problem. Use these tips to help you troubleshoot the matter.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an AC system takes too long to cool the house. The purpose of a filter is to capture airborne debris that may damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture tiny airborne allergens to enhance indoor air quality.

Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing airflow. Besides making an air conditioner take more time to cool down the house, this problem 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 replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where your air filter is, check with an HVAC technician at your next service visit.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat must be compatible with your cooling to work correctly. Then, you must set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Installing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.

Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, need help learning about programmable features, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for help.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners come with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to absorb heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to lower the temperature of your house.

Solution: Contact our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this maintenance involves cleaning out dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

A cooling cycle requires transporting warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching yard waste, the cooling process might be less effective.

Solution: Carefully hose off the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost circulation.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is the secret to air conditioning. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.

Solution: Only a trained technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you’re dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC experts for help right away.

Leaky Ductwork

Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner work harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.

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

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cooled air can only flow around your home when the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Inspect the vents in every room, ensuring they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or curtains.

Aging or Undersized Air Conditioning System

Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less effective and may be unable to maintain comfortable temperatures. Furthermore, have you recently finished a home addition or made other changes? This might result in an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.

Solution: The only option for an aging 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 efforts prove ineffective, don’t hesitate to bring in the HVAC experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide fast, reliable service to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians follow the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.