The blaring hot summer temperatures are bearable with cool drinks and even cooler indoor temperatures. So it isn’t surprising that many people get frustrated when their air conditioners cannot cool their spaces fast enough for their comfort.- Taking Long To Cool
Visit https://andersonair.com/how-long-should-ac-stay-off-between-cycles/ to determine how long your ac should stay off between its cooling cycles.
Although there are many reasons for ac taking long to cool, here are the top ten reasons.
The summer outdoor temperatures are too high
Heatwaves in summer can be scorching. And these higher temperatures mean that your ac has to work harder to lower and cool your indoor temperatures to your desired (set) temperature.
So, relax if your ac is well serviced, is in excellent working condition, and has the proper cooling capacity. It will take longer than usual to cool your air during the summer.
The AC air filter is dirty
When it comes to the usual suspects that cause ac issues, a dirty filter ranks high on the list.
Dirty and clogged filters narrow the air pathways. They limit the amount of air sucked into the air conditioner to be filtered and cooled. It also obstructs fresh and cool air from being blown from the AC into the room, making it feel like your AC is taking longer to cool.
AC refrigerant is low
Refrigerant/freon is a vital component of an ac system. Freon is a cooling gas substance that absorbs the heat from your indoors and transfers it outside. Low refrigerant levels are usually a result of a refrigerant leak, which results from the lines carrying refrigerant having a hole somewhere.
So when the refrigerant levels reduce, your ac won’t efficiently cool your indoor air.
The outside components of your AC unit are filthy
The condenser unit of your ac is usually located outside of the house. This is because of its large size and role. The condenser is the part of an air conditioning system that disperses the heat that the refrigerant absorbs into the outside air.
Its placement outside the house exposes it to the elements like soil, debris, and dust that coat the outer layer of the condenser. This soil also enters and coats the condenser coils. When the condenser coils become overly dirty, they fail or struggle to disperse the heat from the refrigerant.
And the longer it takes to disperse the heat. The longer it will take the ac to cool your home.
To prevent your ac taking long to cool, regularly clean the outside part of your ac to remove any debris buildup. And in the case of having dirty condenser coils, contact your HVAC technician to clean them for you.
Broken or leaky ducts
A leak in the duct system is another reason your ac is taking too long to cool. There are two types of duct leaks that your ac or home can suffer from.
Supply duct leak
This type of duct leak occurs in the air ducts that supply cooled air to your house. Therefore if your supply ductwork is broken, poorly connected, or has holes, it will result in the cooled air escaping. And when cooler air doesn’t replace warm air, your home takes longer to cool.
Return duct leak
The return duct system pulls the hot unfiltered air from your indoor air to the compressor. So, if your ac return ducts leak, your ac won’t be able to suck in the hot air from your house sufficiently. And this makes it difficult to cool your home.
Arrange regular checks, repairs, and maintenance with a trusted HVAC technician. Through these periodic checks, a technician can inspect your ducts and repair any leakages.
Your AC is too small
Installing an air conditioner that has a smaller cooling capacity than your house’s air cooling needs results in your new ac taking a long time to cool.
A smaller or undersized ac sucks in small amounts of warm air from your house with a bigger air volume. To cool your whole house, it has to run consistently, but even though it does this, it will never efficiently supply your big house with cool air.
To enjoy a comfortable house, replace your smaller ac system with a bigger one that sufficiently meets your house’s cooling requirements.
Your AC is old
An appliance’s efficiency and effectiveness deteriorate with age. So, another reason why your ac is taking longer to cool is that it may be old.
An AC’s lifespan is about 10 to15 years. After this period, when you use it, it loses its capacity to cool your house’s air efficiently.
If your ac has served its time limit, replace it with a new one to enjoy an efficient cooling system.
Wrongly programming the thermostat
Setting your thermostat to a higher temperature on hot days is another reason for your AC taking a long time to cool.
So, check your thermostat settings and ensure that you have set it to a lower temperature so that the ac can work to achieve a cooler temperature.
Faulty compressor in the AC unit
“Why is my ac taking so long to cool?”, you may be asking yourself. It just might be the compressor.
The compressor is the part of the AC that cools the air from your house or rooms. So, if the ac is not cooling the air, then there could be a problem with the compressor.
The compressor is a motor that compresses the coolant/refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. A defective compressor will mean that the cooling cycle won’t start, thus making the ac fails to cool your indoor air.
Your AC unit has faulty parts
An air conditioner cannot cool your air if some parts of it are faulty. Some of the defective parts could be a defective capacitor in the compressor, a faulty thermistor, a motor, a control board, or a capillary. Reach out to your HVAC specialist for more information.
Conclusion
There are many reasons for your ac taking a long to cool. Still, with regular maintenance and repairs, you can ensure that your ac system works efficiently, providing comfortable, cool temperatures.