When it’s scorching 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 typical on sweltering days, which push your cooling harder than normal. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a hard time, your air conditioner may have a problem. Use these tips to help you resolve the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioning system takes too long to cool the house. The purpose of a filter is to capture airborne particles that could damage delicate HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even capture tiny airborne allergens to enhance indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing circulation. Besides making your AC unit take a long time to cool down the house, this problem can also produce higher energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and exchange it if it seems dirty. Try not to wait past three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where an air filter can be found, check with a local 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 have to set it correctly to sustain a nice temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, require help learning about programmable options, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Epperson Service Experts for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners possess 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 soak up heat properly if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take longer to lower the temperature of your house.
Solution: Contact our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this call involves cleaning out dust and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle involves sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat into the outdoor air. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching plants, the cooling process can be less successful.
Solution: Lightly hose down 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 an essential tool to air conditioning. Typically, this substance flows in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and releasing heat from your home.
Solution: Only a trained technician can correct refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call 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 work harder and longer to keep your home cool.
Solution: If you are dealing with irregular temperatures and high amounts of dust inside the house, get in touch with Epperson Service Experts to examine your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only circulate throughout your home when the vents are open and unobstructed. Closing too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, contributing to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, making sure they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or curtains.
Aging or Undersized AC System
Did you set up your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the AC becomes less efficient and may struggle to maintain comfortable temperatures. Additionally, have you recently built a home extension or made other modifications? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Count on our qualified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Epperson Service Experts
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, don't hesitate to call in the HVAC specialists at Epperson Service Experts. We deliver fast, efficient services to get your cooling back up and running as quickly as possible. You can rest easy knowing our technicians adhere to 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.