When it’s hot outside, you rely on your air conditioner to keep things comfortable inside. But is your AC taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your air conditioner harder than usual. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a tough time, your air conditioning might have a problem. Use these tips to help you troubleshoot the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioning system takes too long to cool the house. The job of a filter is to catch airborne debris that might harm your HVAC equipment. More effective filters even catch very small airborne particles to improve indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing airflow. Besides making an AC unit take more time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce higher energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter every month and replace it if it seems dirty. Try not to wait over three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where the air filter can be found, check with an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to function correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a nice temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, want help learning about programmable settings, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, call an HVAC technician at Midland Air Service Experts for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take more time to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this call consists of clearing away debris and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle will require sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat into the outdoor air. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling process could be less effective.
Solution: Gently hose off the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to improve circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the key to effective cooling. Typically, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can fix refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC professionals for help at once.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner run harder and longer to cool your home.
Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and excessive dust throughout the house, contact Midland Air Service Experts to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only circulate around your home as long as the supply and return vents are open and free from any obstructions. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents in each room, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
Outdated or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioner
Did you put in your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less effective and can be unable to maintain a comfortable home. Additionally, have you recently completed a home addition or made other improvements? This might lead to an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an old or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Count on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Midland Air Service Experts
If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, feel free to bring in the HVAC pros at Midland Air Service Experts. We supply fast, efficient service to get your AC 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 additional HVAC services today.