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

When it’s hot outside, you trust your cooling to keep things cool inside. But is your air conditioning taking too long to cool down the house? This is familiar on sweltering days, which strain your cooling harder than normal. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your air conditioner is still struggling, your HVAC system may have a problem. Try these tips to help you troubleshoot the matter.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioner needs too much time to lower the temperature of the house. The job of a filter is to catch airborne pollutants that might damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More effective filters even catch very small airborne contaminants to enhance indoor air quality.

Over time, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting circulation. Besides making an air conditioning system take more time to cool down the house, this situation can also result in higher energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter each month and change it if it appears dirty. Don't wait longer than three months to change the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re unsure where your air filter can be found, talk to a local HVAC technician at your next service visit.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your cooling to run properly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a nice temperature. Implementing 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 don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact an HVAC technician at Neal Harris Service Experts 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 absorbs heat from the air with the refrigerant. It’s more difficult for the refrigerant to soak up heat effectively if the evaporator coil is grimy, making it take more time to lower the temperature of your house.

Solution: Call our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this visit includes clearing away dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to improve cooling performance.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

Your AC system's cooling cycle involves transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat to the exterior. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching vegetation, the cooling cycle might be less efficient.

Solution: Carefully clean the outdoor unit to get rid of dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to a minimum of 12 inches from the unit to improve airflow.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is an essential tool to air conditioning. Usually, this substance moves in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your cooling loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and releasing heat from your home.

Solution: Only a qualified technician can correct refrigerant leaks and refresh the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call our HVAC pros for help in no time.

Leaky Ductwork

Air ducts are the highways of your HVAC system. A leak from either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner work harder and longer maintain comfortable temperatures.

Solution: If you experience inconsistent temperatures and high amounts of dust in the house, contact Neal Harris Service Experts to take a look at your ventilation. Duct sealing or replacement can resolve the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cool air can only flow around your home as long as the supply and return vents are open and free from any obstructions. Closing too many vents can even disrupt the system’s balance, resulting in increased breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Take a look at the vents in each room, making sure they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.

Old or Poorly Sized AC System

Did you set up your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As time passes, the system becomes less effective and can struggle to maintain a comfortable home. Likewise, have you recently completed a home add-on or made other improvements? This can lead to an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only option for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to exchange it. Trust our certified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.

Schedule AC Repair with Neal Harris Service Experts

If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, it’s time to bring in the HVAC specialists at Neal Harris Service Experts. We provide fast, efficient support to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. You can count on the fact that our technicians stick to the highest standards of care to ensure your long-term satisfaction. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.