When it’s hot outside, you count on your air conditioner to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioner taking too long to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which strain your AC system harder than usual. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a tough time, your cooling equipment might have a problem. Use these tips to help you resolve the issue.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioning system needs more time to cool down the house. The function of a filter is to trap airborne contaminants that might harm delicate HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even catch tiny airborne allergens to improve indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making your air conditioning system take longer to cool down the house, this situation can also result in higher energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a 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 your air filter is, check with an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat must be compatible with your AC system to work effectively. Then, you need to set it correctly to maintain a comfortable temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable features, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, call an HVAC technician at McElroy Service Experts for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners come with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to hold onto heat properly if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool down the house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this call involves removing dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle requires transporting heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat into the outdoor air. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching vegetation, the cooling process could be less effective.
Solution: Lightly hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to boost airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is an essential tool to a cool home. Normally, this substance flows in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can mend refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you suspect this problem, call up our HVAC specialists for help at once.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to cool your home.
Solution: If you experience inconsistent temperatures and excessive dust in the house, contact McElroy Service Experts to examine your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only circulate around your home if the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, leading to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents in each room, ensuring they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
Old or Poorly Sized Air Conditioner
Did you set up your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the unit becomes less efficient and can be unable to maintain steady cooling. Likewise, have you recently completed a home extension or made other modifications? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Count on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with McElroy Service Experts
If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, it’s time to contact the HVAC pros at McElroy Service Experts. We supply fast, effective services to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians follow the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.