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

When it’s hot outside, you count on your air conditioner to keep things cool inside. But is your AC taking a long time to cool down the house? This is common on sweltering days, which strain your air conditioner harder than average. However, if it’s not very hot outside and your AC is still having a hard time, your HVAC system could have a problem. Use these tips to help you resolve the issue.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioner needs more time to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to capture airborne contaminants that might damage your HVAC equipment. More effective filters even catch tiny airborne particles to improve indoor air quality.

As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, limiting the flow of air. Besides making the air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this situation can also result in more expensive energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter once a month and exchange it if it appears dirty. Don't wait longer than three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where your air filter can be found, ask your HVAC technician at your next service appointment.

Improper Thermostat Settings

Your thermostat must be compatible with your air conditioner to function properly. Then, you need to set it correctly to reach a cozy temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat offers the best results.

Solution: If you want to update your thermostat, want help learning about programmable options, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, get in touch with an HVAC technician at Stevenson Service Experts for support.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air via the refrigerant. It’s challenging for the refrigerant to hold onto heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take more time to cool your house.

Solution: Get in touch with our HVAC experts to clean and tune up your air conditioner. An element of this maintenance involves cleaning out dust and grime from the evaporator coil to boost cooling efficiency.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

The cooling cycle requires sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it ventilates heat away from your home. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or covered with encroaching vegetation, the cooling process can be less effective.

Solution: Lightly hose off 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 boost airflow.

Refrigerant Leak

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

Solution: Only a qualified technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC pros for help straight away.

Leaky Ductwork

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

Solution: If you notice inconsistent temperatures and an excessive amount of dust in the house, call Stevenson Service Experts to examine 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 supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Shutting too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, leading to more breakdowns and repair costs.

Solution: Inspect the vents all through the house, making sure they’re open and not blocked by furniture, carpets or window treatments.

Old or Poorly Sized Air Conditioner

Did you set up your cooling more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the AC becomes less effective and might struggle to maintain a comfortable home. Furthermore, have you recently completed a home add-on or made other modifications? This can leave you with an undersized air conditioner that will struggle to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only option for an old or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Count on our qualified HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.

Schedule AC Repair with Stevenson Service Experts

If your troubleshooting efforts prove ineffective, feel free to call in the HVAC professionals at Stevenson Service Experts. We supply fast, reliable support to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible. Rest assured that our technicians practice the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term comfort. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.