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

When it’s sizzling outside, you depend on your cooling to keep things balmy inside. But is your air conditioning taking a long time to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which push your cooling harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your AC is still struggling, your air conditioner might have a problem. Try these tips to help you diagnose the issue.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most common reason an AC system takes too long to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to trap airborne particles that may cause problems for your HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even trap tiny airborne particles to improve indoor air quality.

As time passes, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting airflow. Besides making your air conditioner take more time to cool down the house, this problem can also lead to larger energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter once a month and replace it if it appears dirty. Try not to wait longer than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where the air filter can be found, check with your HVAC technician at your next service visit.

Improper Thermostat Settings

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

Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, need help learning about programmable features, or aren’t comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for support.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat effectively if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take longer to cool your house.

Solution: Contact our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this visit involves clearing away dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

The cooling cycle involves transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat to the exterior. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching vegetation, the cooling cycle could be less efficient.

Solution: Gently clean the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to boost ventilation.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is vital to effective cooling. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and dissipating 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 our HVAC experts for help in no time.

Leaky Ductwork

Air ducts are vital to your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side could make your air conditioner perform harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.

Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and high amounts of dust in the house, get in touch with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to take a look at your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can take care of the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cool air can only flow throughout your home if the air vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, contributing to increased breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Check the vents in every room, making sure they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpets or drapes.

Old or Undersized Air Conditioning System

Did you install your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the unit becomes less efficient and could fail to maintain a comfortable home. Furthermore, have you recently completed a home extension or made other modifications? This could lead to an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only solution for an old 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 still proves ineffective, don’t hesitate to bring in the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We supply fast, effective services to get your cooling back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.