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

When it’s sizzling outside, you rely on your cooling to keep things comfortable inside. But is your AC taking forever to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which push your AC system harder than usual. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your air conditioning might have a problem. Use these tips to help you troubleshoot the matter.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an AC system takes too long to cool the house. The job of a filter is to trap airborne debris that could harm your HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even trap tiny airborne allergens to improve indoor air quality.

As time passes, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting the flow of air. Besides making your AC unit take more time to cool down the house, this issue can also lead to larger energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter every month and change it if it seems dirty. Try not to wait longer than three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where the air filter can be found, ask your HVAC technician at your next service visit.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat has to be compatible with your cooling to run correctly. Then, you have to set it correctly to maintain a nice temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.

Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, want help learning about programmable settings, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, call an HVAC technician at Atmostemp Service Experts for assistance.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to hold onto heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool your house.

Solution: Contact our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this maintenance includes clearing away debris and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

Your AC system's cooling cycle involves transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat away from your home. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching vegetation, the cooling cycle may be less efficient.

Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to increase airflow.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is an essential tool to a cool home. Typically, this substance moves in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and expelling heat from your home.

Solution: Only a qualified technician can repair refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you believe your AC is struggling with this problem, call up our HVAC professionals for help right away.

Leaky Ductwork

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

Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and an excessive amount of dust around the house, contact Atmostemp Service Experts to examine your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cool air can only move around your home if the supply and return vents are open and free from any obstructions. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, contributing to increased breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, ensuring they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or window treatments.

Outdated or Poorly Sized AC System

Did you install your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less efficient and can be unable to maintain comfortable temperatures. Furthermore, have you recently completed a home addition or made other modifications? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.

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

Schedule AC Repair with Atmostemp Service Experts

If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, it’s time to bring in the HVAC specialists at Atmostemp Service Experts. We provide fast, efficient service to get your HVAC system back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians stick to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.