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

When it’s sizzling outside, you trust your cooling to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioner taking forever to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioning is still having a hard time, your HVAC system may have a problem. Use these tips to help you resolve the problem.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an AC system needs more time to cool the house. The function of a filter is to trap airborne debris that might damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even catch microscopic airborne particles to increase indoor air quality.

Over time, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting airflow. Besides making the air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this issue can also result in larger energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.

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

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat has to be compatible with your AC system to run effectively. Then, you must set it correctly to sustain a comfortable 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 don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat by yourself, call an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for help.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners come with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which collects heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take more time to cool down the house.

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this maintenance includes cleaning out debris and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling efficiency.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

A cooling cycle requires moving warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat into the outdoor air. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching vegetation, the cooling process can be less efficient.

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

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is an essential tool to air conditioning. Typically, 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 more difficult to handle the cycle of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.

Solution: Only a trained technician can repair refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you think you’re dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC pros for help right away.

Leaky Ductwork

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

Solution: If you experience irregular temperatures and an excessive amount of dust around the house, get ahold of Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your air ducts. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cooled air can only flow around your home if the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, resulting in more breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Inspect the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, rugs or window treatments.

Aging or Poorly Sized Air Conditioning System

Did you put in your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, 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 changes? This might result in an undersized air conditioner that won’t always keep up with demand.

Solution: The only option for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Trust our trained 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 contact the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We deliver fast, efficient support to get your cooling back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians adhere to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.