When it’s sizzling outside, you depend on your cooling to keep things comfortable inside. But is your AC taking a long time to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which strain your cooling harder than normal. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your AC is still having a tough time, your cooling equipment could have a problem. Follow these tips to help you diagnose the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioner takes too long to cool down the house. The function of a filter is to snare airborne particles that can harm delicate HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even trap very small airborne contaminants to increase indoor air quality.
Eventually, the filter becomes blocked up with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing the flow of air. Besides making an air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this issue can also produce more expensive energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and change it if it looks dirty. Don't wait past three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where the air filter can be found, talk to your HVAC technician at your next service visit.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your air conditioner to function effectively. Then, you need to set it correctly to sustain a comfortable temperature. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, require help learning about programmable features, or may not feel comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, call an HVAC technician at Sunbeam Service Experts for support.
Dirty Evaporator Coil
Split-system air conditioners need an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat properly if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take more time to cool down the house.
Solution: Call our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this visit involves removing dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle involves sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat away from your home. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching yard waste, the cooling cycle could be less successful.
Solution: Gently clean the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to around 12 inches from the unit to improve circulation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is an essential tool to effective cooling. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a qualified technician can repair refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call our HVAC professionals for help in no time.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner perform harder and longer to cool your home.
Solution: If you are dealing with uneven temperatures and excessive dust in the house, get in touch with Sunbeam Service Experts to inspect your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cool air can only move through your home if the vents are open and clear. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, contributing to additional breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, carpets or curtains.
Old or Undersized Air Conditioning System
Did you put in your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the AC becomes less effective and may fail to maintain a comfortable home. Likewise, have you recently completed a home add-on or made other improvements? This might result in an undersized air conditioner that won't always keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Count on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Sunbeam Service Experts
If your troubleshooting attempts prove ineffective, it’s time to contact the HVAC experts at Sunbeam Service Experts. We provide fast, effective support to get your AC back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians stick to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to schedule air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.