Why Does the AC Take So Long to Cool Down the House?
When it’s hot outside, you depend on your AC system to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioning taking a long time to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which squeeze your AC system harder than average. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your air conditioner may have a problem. Use these tips to help you resolve the matter.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an AC system needs more time to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to snare airborne debris that might cause problems for sensitive HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even trap tiny airborne allergens to increase indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making your air conditioning system take longer 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 once a month and replace it if it looks dirty. Don’t wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where your air filter can be found, talk to an HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system 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 process may be less efficient.
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 increase airflow.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to a cool home. Usually, this substance travels in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and dissipating heat from your home.
Solution: Only a licensed technician can mend refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call up our HVAC pros for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner work harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you experience irregular temperatures and high amounts of dust inside the house, get ahold of Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts to take a look at your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Conditioned air can only move throughout your home if the vents are open and free from any obstructions. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, resulting in increased breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpets or drapes.
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 may 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 pros 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.
