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

When it’s scorching outside, you trust your air conditioner to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioning taking a long time to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your cooling harder than average. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your air conditioner might have a problem. Try these tips to help you troubleshoot the problem. 

Dirty Air Filter 

A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioning system takes too long to cool the house. The job of a filter is to capture airborne debris that may cause problems for sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture very small airborne contaminants to enhance indoor air quality

Over time, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting circulation. Besides making an AC unit take more time to cool down the house, this problem can also result in higher energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating. 

Solution: Check your air filter every 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 is, talk to your HVAC technician at your next service appointment. 

Improper Thermostat Settings 

Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your cooling to work properly. Then, you must set it correctly to maintain a nice temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results. 

Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, want help learning about programmable settings, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for support. 

Dirty Evaporator Coil 

Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to hold onto heat effectively if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to cool down the house. 

Solution: Contact our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this visit includes removing dust and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency. 

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit 

The cooling cycle will require transporting heated refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat into the outdoor air. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching vegetation, the cooling cycle could be less effective. 

Solution: Carefully hose off the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to increase circulation. 

Refrigerant Leak 

Refrigerant is the secret to effective cooling. Typically, 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 effective at absorbing and expelling heat from your home. 

Solution: Only a trained technician can correct refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you suspect this problem, call our HVAC professionals for help at once. 

Leaky Ductwork 

Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to keep your home cool. 

Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and high amounts of dust around the house, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem. 

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents 

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

Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, rugs or curtains. 

Aging or Poorly Sized AC System 

Did you set up your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the AC becomes less effective and could struggle to maintain steady cooling. Furthermore, have you recently built a home extension or made other modifications? This can result in an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand. 

Solution: The only solution for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Count on our certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency. 

Schedule AC Repair with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 

If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, don’t hesitate to call in the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We supply fast, reliable services to get your HVAC system back up and running as quickly as possible. You can rest easy knowing our technicians stick to the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.