When it’s hot outside, you count on your AC system to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioner taking a long time to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which squeeze your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your cooling is still having a hard time, your air conditioning may have a problem. Try these tips to help you troubleshoot the matter.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioning system takes too long to cool the house. The job of a filter is to trap airborne particles that might damage your HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even catch very small airborne allergens to improve indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making an AC unit take a long time to cool down the house, this issue can also lead to larger energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter each month and exchange it if it looks dirty. Don't wait over three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where an air filter can be found, ask an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat must be compatible with your air conditioner to function correctly. Then, you have to set it correctly to reach a nice temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, require help learning about programmable features, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, call an HVAC technician at Jack Nelson Service Experts for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to soak up heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to cool down the house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance involves removing dust and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
A cooling cycle will require transporting warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat to the exterior. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching vegetation, the cooling process may be less efficient.
Solution: Gently hose off the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to enhance circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the secret to effective cooling. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC specialists for help straight away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner run harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you are dealing with inconsistent temperatures and high amounts of dust throughout the house, get in touch with Jack Nelson Service Experts to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only circulate through your home as long as the supply and return vents are open and free from any obstructions. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, resulting in more breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents in each room, seeing to it that they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or curtains.
Old or Poorly Sized Air Conditioning System
Did you install your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the AC becomes less effective and can struggle to maintain steady cooling. Additionally, have you recently completed a home add-on or made other changes? This might leave you with an undersized air conditioner that won't always keep up with demand.
Solution: The only option for an old or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Count on our certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Jack Nelson Service Experts
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, don't hesitate to contact the HVAC professionals at Jack Nelson Service Experts. We provide fast, efficient service to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. Rest assured that our technicians practice the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.