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

When it’s sizzling outside, you rely on your AC system to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioner taking a long time to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which strain your AC system harder than usual. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your cooling equipment might have a problem. Follow these tips to help you resolve the matter.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioning system takes too long to cool down the house. The function of a filter is to snare airborne contaminants that may damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even trap tiny airborne contaminants to increase indoor air quality.

Eventually, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting the flow of air. Besides making the air conditioner take more time to cool down the house, this problem can also produce more expensive energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter every month and replace 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 not sure where an air filter is located, ask an HVAC technician at your next service visit.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat has to be compatible with your air conditioner to function correctly. Then, you have to set it correctly to reach a comfortable temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.

Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, need help learning about programmable options, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for support.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to cool your house.

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this visit involves clearing away debris and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling efficiency.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

The cooling cycle will require moving hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat away from your home. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching yard waste, the cooling process could be less successful.

Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to enhance ventilation.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is the key to a cool home. Typically, this substance flows in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and expelling heat from your home.

Solution: Only a licensed technician can repair refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you suspect this problem, get in touch with our HVAC professionals for help in no time.

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 perform harder and longer to cool your home.

Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and an excessive amount of dust throughout the house, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cool air can only flow around your home if the vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting 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 all through the house, making sure they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpeting or curtains.

Aging or Poorly Sized Air Conditioning System

Did you set up your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the AC becomes less effective and could fail to maintain steady cooling. Additionally, have you recently finished a home addition or made other improvements? This may leave you with an undersized air conditioner that won’t always keep up with demand.

Solution: The only solution for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Depend on our trained 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 contact the HVAC experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide fast, efficient support to get your AC back up and running as quickly as possible. Rest assured that our technicians stick to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.

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