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

When it’s hot outside, you depend on your cooling to keep things balmy inside. But is your AC taking forever to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which squeeze your cooling harder than average. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioning is still having a tough time, your HVAC system could have a problem. Try these tips to help you diagnose the issue. 

Dirty Air Filter 

A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioner takes too long to cool the house. The purpose of a filter is to trap airborne pollutants that may cause problems for sensitive HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even capture tiny airborne contaminants to enhance indoor air quality. 

Eventually, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making an air conditioner take a long time to cool down the house, this issue can also produce more expensive energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating. 

Solution: Check your air filter each month and replace it if it looks dirty. Try not to wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where an air filter is, talk to a local HVAC technician at your next service appointment. 

Improper Thermostat Settings 

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

Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, contact an HVAC technician at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts for help. 

Dirty Evaporator Coil 

Split-system air conditioners come with 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 hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool your house. 

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance includes clearing away dust and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency. 

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit 

Your AC system’s cooling cycle will require transporting warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat to the exterior. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching yard waste, the cooling cycle can be less effective. 

Solution: Gently 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 ventilation. 

Refrigerant Leak 

Refrigerant is an essential tool to effective cooling. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and releasing heat from your home. 

Solution: Only a qualified technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you’re dealing with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC experts for help in no time. 

Leaky Ductwork 

Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to keep your home cool. 

Solution: If you are dealing with irregular temperatures and high amounts of dust throughout the house, call Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts to inspect your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem. 

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents 

Conditioned air can only move throughout your home when the vents are open and free from any obstructions. Shutting too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, resulting in additional breakdowns and repair costs. 

Solution: Take a look at the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or curtains. 

Outdated or Inadequately Sized AC System 

Did you install your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the system becomes less efficient and can be unable to maintain comfortable temperatures. Additionally, have you recently completed a home addition or made other alterations? This might leave you with an undersized air conditioner that won’t always keep up with demand. 

Solution: The only option for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Trust our licensed HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency. 

Schedule AC Repair with Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts 

If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, feel free to bring in the HVAC experts at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts. We supply fast, reliable services to get your cooling back up and running as quickly as possible. Rest assured that our technicians stick to the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.