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

When it’s hot outside, you count on your cooling to keep things balmy inside. But is your AC taking forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which squeeze your cooling harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioner is still having a tough time, your HVAC system might have a problem. Follow these tips to help you troubleshoot the issue.

Dirty Air Filter

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

Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting the flow of air. Besides making your AC unit take a long time to cool down the house, this problem can also result in larger energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter every month and replace it if it appears dirty. Don't wait longer than three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where an air filter is, talk to a local HVAC technician at your next service appointment.

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. Implementing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.

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

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to absorb heat effectively if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take longer to cool down the house.

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this call includes removing dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

Your AC system's cooling cycle involves sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat into the outdoor air. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or overgrown with encroaching vegetation, the cooling process could be less successful.

Solution: Carefully hose off the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to boost circulation.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is vital to a cool home. Usually, this substance flows in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and releasing heat from your home.

Solution: Only a qualified technician can repair refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you suspect this problem, call up our HVAC professionals for help straight away.

Leaky Ductwork

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

Solution: If you notice inconsistent temperatures and an excessive amount of dust throughout the house, contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to take a look at your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Conditioned air can only circulate around your home if the air vents are open and unobstructed. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to more breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Take a look at the vents all through the house, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, carpets or window treatments.

Old or Undersized Air Conditioner

Did you set up your air conditioning more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the system becomes less efficient and can fail to maintain comfortable temperatures. Furthermore, have you recently completed a home addition or made other improvements? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only fix for an outdated or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. 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, don't hesitate to call in the HVAC specialists at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We deliver fast, effective service to get your cooling back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.