When it’s scorching outside, you rely on your AC system to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioner taking forever to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which squeeze your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your HVAC system could have a problem. Try these tips to help you resolve the problem.
Dirty Air Filter
A clogged filter is the most likely reason an AC system needs more time to lower the temperature of the house. The purpose of a filter is to catch airborne contaminants that might cause problems for sensitive HVAC equipment. More advanced filters even catch tiny airborne particles to increase indoor air quality.
As time passes, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, reducing circulation. Besides making the air conditioning system take a long time to cool down the house, this situation can also lead to more expensive energy bills, higher wear and tear, and overheating.
Solution: Check your air filter once a month and replace 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 not sure where your air filter can be found, talk to your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.
Improper Thermostat Settings
Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your AC system to work correctly. Then, you need to set it correctly to maintain a cozy temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat produces the best results.
Solution: If you want to replace your thermostat, need help learning about programmable features, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Golden Seal Service Experts for support.
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 challenging for the refrigerant to soak up heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool your house.
Solution: Call our HVAC specialists to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An important part of this maintenance includes cleaning out debris and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling performance.
Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit
Your AC system's cooling cycle involves sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat to the exterior. Unfortunately, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching yard waste, the cooling process can be less efficient.
Solution: Lightly clean the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to boost ventilation.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is vital to effective cooling. Usually, this substance flows in a closed loop back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak occurs and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and expelling heat from your home.
Solution: Only a qualified technician can repair refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, get in touch with our HVAC pros for help right away.
Leaky Ductwork
Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak in either the return or supply side might make your air conditioner perform harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.
Solution: If you are dealing with uneven temperatures and excessive dust throughout the house, get in touch with Golden Seal Service Experts to take a look at your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.
Dirty or Blocked Air Vents
Cooled air can only move around your home when the air vents are open and clear. Closing too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, contributing to more breakdowns and repair costs.
Solution: Take a look at the vents in every room, seeing to it that they’re open and unblocked by furniture, rugs or drapes.
Old or Poorly Sized AC System
Did you set up your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the AC becomes less effective and can fail to maintain steady cooling. Likewise, have you recently built a home add-on or made other improvements? This could leave you with an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand.
Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Count on our licensed HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.
Schedule AC Repair with Golden Seal Service Experts
If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, don't hesitate to bring in the HVAC professionals at Golden Seal Service Experts. We provide fast, effective service to get your AC back up and running right away. Rest assured that our technicians follow the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or additional HVAC services today.