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

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

Dirty Air Filter 

A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioner needs too much time to lower the temperature of the house. The job of a filter is to catch airborne particles that may harm delicate HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even catch tiny airborne particles to increase indoor air quality. 

As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making an AC unit take a long time to cool down the house, this situation can also lead to higher energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating. 

Solution: Check your air filter once a month and exchange it if it looks dirty. Don’t wait more than three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where an air filter is, check with your HVAC technician at your next service visit. 

Improper Thermostat Settings 

Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your cooling to run correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to maintain a comfortable temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results. 

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

Dirty Evaporator Coil 

Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which soaks up heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to lower the temperature of your house. 

Solution: Contact our HVAC experts to tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance involves a cleanliness check for dust and grime around the evaporator coil. If debris is found, the evaporator coil can be cleaned to boost cooling performance. 

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit 

Your AC system’s cooling cycle will require sending hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat into the outdoor air. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling cycle may be less efficient. 

Solution: Carefully hose down the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, prune back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to improve circulation. 

Refrigerant Leak 

Refrigerant is the secret to effective cooling. Normally, this substance moves in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your air conditioner loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and expelling heat from your home. 

Solution: Only a qualified technician can mend refrigerant leaks and recharge 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 the highways of your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner work harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures. 

Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and excessive dust throughout the house, contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem. 

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents 

Conditioned air can only move through your home when the air vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, leading to increased breakdowns and repair costs. 

Solution: Take a look at the vents in each room, ensuring they’re open and unobstructed by furniture, rugs or drapes. 

Outdated or Inadequately Sized Air Conditioning System 

Did you set up your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the unit becomes less effective and might be unable to maintain steady cooling. Furthermore, have you recently built a home extension or made other improvements? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand. 

Solution: The only fix for an old or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Trust our licensed 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 still proves ineffective, it’s time to call in the HVAC pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We supply fast, effective support to get your cooling back up and running as quickly as possible. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.