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

When it’s sizzling outside, you trust your AC system to keep things comfortable inside. But is your air conditioning taking a long time to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which strain your cooling harder than average. However, if it’s not especially hot outside and your AC is still struggling, your air conditioner could have a problem. Try these tips to help you resolve the matter.

Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter is the most frequent reason an air conditioner takes too long to cool down the house. The job of a filter is to capture airborne contaminants that can harm delicate HVAC equipment. More effective filters even trap microscopic airborne particles to increase indoor air quality.

As time passes, the filter becomes stuffed with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting circulation. Besides making an air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this issue can also produce higher energy bills, additional wear and tear, and overheating.

Solution: Check your air filter every month and exchange it if it looks dirty. Try not to wait over three months to exchange the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re uncertain 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 cooling to run properly. Then, you have to set it correctly to sustain a cozy temperature. Employing a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results.

Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable features, or aren't comfortable programming a thermostat on your own, contact an HVAC technician at San Antonio Air Service Experts for assistance.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Split-system air conditioners possess an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coil, which takes in heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently if the evaporator coil is filthy, making it take longer to cool your house.

Solution: Contact our HVAC professionals to clean and tune up your air conditioner. Part of this call involves cleaning out dirt and grime from the evaporator coil to enhance cooling efficiency.

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit

Your AC system's cooling cycle will require transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it expels heat away from your home. That said, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching plants, the cooling process could be less effective.

Solution: Carefully clean the outdoor unit to eliminate dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, cut back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to enhance circulation.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is an essential tool to air conditioning. Typically, this substance travels in a closed loop among the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak forms and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less effective at absorbing and releasing heat from your home.

Solution: Only a licensed technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system. If you think you're dealing with this problem, call up our HVAC professionals for help in no time.

Leaky Ductwork

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

Solution: If you notice irregular temperatures and excessive dust throughout the house, get ahold of San Antonio Air Service Experts to take a look at your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem.

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents

Cool air can only move throughout your home as long as the supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Closing too many vents can even mess with the system’s balance, resulting in increased 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, carpets or drapes.

Old or Undersized Air Conditioning System

Did you install your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it gets older, the unit becomes less effective and might struggle to maintain steady cooling. Likewise, have you recently built a home extension or made other alterations? This may result in an undersized air conditioner that may be unable to keep up with demand.

Solution: The only fix for an old or undersized air conditioner is to swap it out. Depend on our trained HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency.

Schedule AC Repair with San Antonio Air Service Experts

If your troubleshooting still proves ineffective, don't hesitate to contact the HVAC professionals at San Antonio Air Service Experts. We deliver fast, efficient support to get your AC back up and running right away. You can rest easy knowing our technicians practice the highest standards of customer service to ensure your long-term peace of mind. Contact us to request air conditioning repair or any other HVAC services today.