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

When it’s scorching outside, you depend on your air conditioner to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioner taking forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than usual. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your cooling is still having a tough time, your cooling equipment might have a problem. Try these tips to help you diagnose the issue.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most common reason an AC system needs more time to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to snare airborne pollutants that can cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More effective filters even catch microscopic airborne particles to enhance indoor air quality.

Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making an AC unit take more time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce higher energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter once a month and replace it if it appears dirty. Try not to wait past three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where the air filter is, check with your HVAC technician at your next service visit.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat must be compatible with your cooling to run properly. Then, you must set it correctly to sustain a comfortable temperature. Installing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.

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

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool down the house.

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this visit involves removing debris and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

A cooling cycle involves transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching vegetation, the cooling process may be less efficient.

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

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is the key to a cool home. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop among 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 releasing heat from your home.

Solution: Only a licensed technician can correct refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you think you’re dealing 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 in either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner perform harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.

Solution: If you experience irregular temperatures and high amounts of dust inside the house, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to take a look at your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Conditioned air can only circulate throughout your home when the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, contributing to increased breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Check the vents in each room, making sure they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpeting or curtains.

Old or Undersized AC System

Did you put in your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the system becomes less effective and may fail to maintain steady cooling. Likewise, have you recently built a home add-on or made other alterations? This may leave you with an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only fix for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Trust 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 still proves ineffective, feel free to bring in the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide fast, efficient services to get your AC back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians practice the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.