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

When it’s scorching outside, you rely on your cooling to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioner taking too long to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than usual. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your cooling is still having a tough time, your air conditioning could have a problem. Follow these tips to help you troubleshoot the problem.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most likely reason an air conditioner takes too long to cool the house. The purpose of a filter is to capture airborne pollutants that could cause problems for delicate HVAC equipment. More effective filters even capture very small airborne particles to enhance indoor air quality.

Eventually, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing airflow. Besides making an AC unit take a long time to cool down the house, this problem can also produce higher energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter every month and exchange it if it looks dirty. Don't wait past three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain where an air filter is located, ask an 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 must set it correctly to reach a comfortable temperature. Installing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.

Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, require help learning about programmable features, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, call an HVAC technician at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to soak up heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take longer to cool down the house.

Solution: Call our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this maintenance consists of removing dust and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

Your AC system's cooling cycle will require sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat to the exterior. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching plants, the cooling process may be less efficient.

Solution: Lightly hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to increase ventilation.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is the secret to a cool home. Typically, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs 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 fix refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you suspect this problem, call our HVAC professionals for help straight away.

Leaky Ductwork

Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner run harder and longer to keep your home cool.

Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and excessive dust around the house, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to take a look at your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cool air can only circulate through your home as long as the vents are open and unobstructed. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, contributing to increased breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Take a look at the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.

Outdated or Undersized Air Conditioner

Did you set up your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the unit becomes less efficient and could fail to maintain steady cooling. Furthermore, have you recently built a home add-on or made other improvements? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.

Solution: The only fix for an old or undersized air conditioner is to replace 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

If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, it’s time to call in the HVAC experts at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We deliver fast, effective services to get your cooling back up and running as quickly as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians adhere to the highest standards of support to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to arrange air conditioning repair or other HVAC services today.