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

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

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most common reason an AC system needs more time to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to capture airborne contaminants that could cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even trap microscopic airborne particles to improve indoor air quality.

As time passes, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting airflow. Besides making the air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this issue can also lead to larger energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.

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

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat must be compatible with your air conditioner to work properly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.

Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable options, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, call an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to soak up heat effectively if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to lower the temperature of your house.

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance consists of cleaning out debris and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

A cooling cycle requires sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat away from your home. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching plants, the cooling cycle could be less effective.

Solution: Lightly hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to enhance airflow.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is an essential tool to air conditioning. Typically, this substance travels 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 dissipating heat from your home.

Solution: Only a licensed technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC experts for help right away.

Leaky Ductwork

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

Solution: If you experience inconsistent temperatures and an excessive amount of dust throughout the house, contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to examine your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Conditioned air can only flow through your home when the air vents are open and free from any obstructions. Closing too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, leading to additional breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Check the vents in each room, ensuring they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or window treatments.

Old or Undersized AC System

Did you install your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less efficient and may struggle to maintain comfortable temperatures. Additionally, have you recently built a home add-on or made other changes? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only option for an old or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Count on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.

Schedule AC Repair with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, it’s time to bring in the HVAC specialists at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We supply fast, efficient service to get your AC back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.