When it’s sizzling outside, you count on your cooling to keep things comfortable inside. But is your AC taking too long to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which squeeze your cooling harder than normal. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your air conditioning may have a problem. Try these tips to help you diagnose the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an AC system needs more time to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to capture airborne particles that may harm your HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture tiny airborne particles to enhance indoor air quality.
Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting airflow. Besides making your AC unit take a long time 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 every month and change it if it looks dirty. Don't wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where your air filter is located, check with your HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to work properly. Then, you must set it correctly to maintain a nice temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.
Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, require help learning about programmable settings, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts for assistance.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to soak up heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take more time to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Call our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance involves cleaning out dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
The cooling cycle requires sending 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 successful.
Solution: Carefully clean the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to improve circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is an essential tool to effective cooling. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC pros for help straight away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak on 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 uneven temperatures and excessive dust inside the house, get in touch with Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only move throughout your home as long as the air vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, leading to more breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Check the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpeting or curtains.
Outdated or Inadequately Sized AC System
Did you put in your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less efficient and might struggle to maintain comfortable temperatures. Likewise, have you recently finished a home add-on or made other alterations? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only solution for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to exchange 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 still proves ineffective, it’s time to bring in the HVAC specialists at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts. We supply fast, efficient services to get your HVAC system back up and running as quickly as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians practice the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.