When it’s hot outside, you trust your cooling to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioning taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your AC system harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your AC is still having a hard time, your cooling equipment might have a problem. Follow these tips to help you troubleshoot the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an AC system takes too long to cool the house. The job of a filter is to trap airborne debris that can cause problems for sensitive HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even trap tiny airborne particles to improve indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making an air conditioning system take more time to cool down the house, this problem can also produce larger energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and replace it if it looks dirty. Try not to wait over three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where the air filter can be found, talk to your HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to work correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a nice temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, want help learning about programmable options, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air for help.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to hold onto heat properly if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take more time to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this maintenance includes cleaning out dust and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle will require sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat away from your home. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching vegetation, the cooling process can be less effective.
Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to improve airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to a cool home. Normally, this substance moves 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 capable of absorbing and expelling 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, call our HVAC pros for help straight away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner run harder and longer to cool your home.
Solution: If you experience uneven temperatures and excessive dust inside the house, get in touch with Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air to examine your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only move around your home if the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Closing too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, contributing to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in each room, ensuring they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
Outdated or Poorly Sized AC System
Did you install your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less efficient and can be unable to maintain steady cooling. Additionally, have you recently completed a home add-on or made other alterations? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Depend on our certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air
If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, it’s time to contact the HVAC pros at Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air. We provide fast, reliable service to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. Rest assured that our technicians adhere to the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.