One reason the AC may be taking a long time to cool the home could be due to the unbearable heat outdoors. When the outside temperature is particularly high, the air conditioner will naturally have to work longer and harder to cool the home.
What if it is not particularly hot outside? If it’s a normal day and the air conditioner is taking a long time to chill at home, one could be dealing with one of the following issues:
- A clogged air filter.
- Condenser or evaporator coil that is dirty.
- There is a refrigerant leak.
- Incorrectly programmed thermostat schedule.
Let's Take A Closer Look At Each Of These Problems Below
1. A Clogged Air Filter
When a filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, the amount of air the AC can transport into the indoor unit to be cooled is reduced. As a result, the air conditioner will have to work longer to draw in enough air, so it will take longer to cool your home.
A filthy air filter might cause difficulties other than longer run times, such as:
- Increased energy costs.
- Extra wear and tear on AC equipment.
- Components that have overheated.
2. Condenser Or Evaporator Coil That Is Dirty
The evaporator coil cools warm air inside the interior unit. A cold liquid known as refrigerant circulates inside the evaporator coil. The heat from the home’s warm air is absorbed by the refrigerant and transmitted to the outdoor unit. One can contact air conditioning maintenance in Austin, TX, to fix it.
When the refrigerant reaches the outdoor unit, the condenser coil dumps all of the heat accumulated by the refrigerant onto the outdoor air. However, if the evaporator or condenser coil is unclean, the entire cooling process is hindered since the refrigerant has a harder time absorbing or releasing heat.
3. There Is A Refrigerant Leak
As previously said, refrigerant is the liquid component that removes heat from the home’s heated air. Normally, refrigerant circulates in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units via copper wires.
However, if the copper lines or one of the coils leak, your AC will lose refrigerant, reducing its ability to absorb and release heat. As a result, the air conditioner will take longer to chill at home.
Other signs that your air conditioner may have a refrigerant leak include:
- A hissing or bubbling noise close to the external unit or refrigerant lines.
- Ice formation on the refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Indoor humidity levels are higher.
4. Incorrectly Programmed Thermostat Schedule
The air conditioner may not be built to cool the air on the hottest days but to keep it at a pleasant temperature. Setting your thermostat to the proper schedule can help keep your home cooler.
Conclusion
There are a few possible causes for the air conditioner taking too long to cool at home. Contact AC contractors in Austin, TX for a professional inspection.
Schedule an air conditioning repair with Alpine Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ll gladly answer any questions you have and send one of our trusted professionals to get the AC chilling again as soon as possible. Reach us for all your HVAC-related services.