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

When it’s hot outside, you rely on your air conditioner to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioning taking a long time to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which squeeze your AC system harder than normal. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your cooling is still having a tough time, your air conditioner might have a problem. Use these tips to help you diagnose the issue. 

Dirty Air Filter 

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioner needs more time to lower the temperature of the house. The job of a filter is to trap airborne particles that may cause problems for your HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even capture very small airborne contaminants to increase indoor air quality

As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting airflow. 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 each month and change it if it appears dirty. Don’t wait longer than three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where the air filter can be found, ask your HVAC technician at your next service appointment. 

Improper Thermostat Settings 

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

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

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 challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to cool down the house. 

Solution: Contact our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this call involves removing dust and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling performance. 

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit 

A cooling cycle will require transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat into the outdoor air. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching vegetation, the cooling cycle might be less successful. 

Solution: Lightly hose off the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to boost circulation. 

Refrigerant Leak 

Refrigerant is the key to a cool home. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and expelling heat from your home. 

Solution: Only a trained technician can fix refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call our HVAC professionals for help in no time. 

Leaky Ductwork 

Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak on 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 an excessive amount of dust in the house, get in touch with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to take a look at your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem. 

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents 

Cooled air can only move around your home if the supply and return vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to increased breakdowns and repair costs. 

Solution: Check the vents all through the house, making sure they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes. 

Aging or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioning System 

Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the AC becomes less effective and may fail to maintain steady cooling. Likewise, have you recently finished a home add-on or made other changes? This could leave you with an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand. 

Solution: The only option for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Trust our licensed 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 specialists at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We provide fast, reliable services to get your AC back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians stick to the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today. 

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