It’s not fun during the dog days of summer to discover your air conditioning system has fallen behind on its work. You can hear the AC running and the familiar sound of the compressor kicking on, yet something isn’t right. People in the house are complaining about the heat, some rooms are hotter than before, and you find yourself pushing the thermostat lower than usual.
First, don’t lower the thermostat to counter this problem. It may make the situation worse. If you suspect your AC isn’t cooling enough, you’ll probably need the assistance of an HVAC company in Frederick, MD to find out why. Second … well, second is the rest of this post: the top five reasons you may have an AC that can’t keep up with the late summer heat.
ONE: The air conditioning system is old
We’ll start with one of the biggest reasons for this problem, which is also one of the most common—the air conditioner is in the final stages of its service life. The average AC can last for 10 to 15 years. If your AC is in that range or past it, this decline in cooling capacity may be the warning you need to replace it with a new system.
TWO: The air conditioner is undersized
What if this is a brand new air conditioner system you had installed for this summer? Then the likely cause of the problem is that an amateur put in an air conditioner that’s not big enough to cool your house. This is one of the many reasons to only rely on trained professionals for an AC installation. When we put in a new air conditioner, we carefully measure the cooling requirements of the home so the AC is the right size to meet its needs. The only solution to an undersized air conditioner is a replacement.
THREE: Duct leaks
The ductwork of the ventilation system may have air leaks allowing cooled air to escape into closed-off areas rather than reach the rooms. Leaks will create numerous troubles for the HVAC system, but professionals can locate them and seal them.
FOUR: Faulty thermostat
A thermostat reading incorrect temperatures may be a problem. If the thermostat senses your home is cooler than it really is, it will shut down the air conditioning system earlier and leave you without enough cooling. Professionals can easily recalibrate or update the thermostat to address this.
FIVE: The air filter is clogged
We’ll end with the simplest explanation of all for an underperforming air conditioner: a clogged air filter. The filter on the HVAC cabinet will collect enough dust and debris after 1–3 months to choke off airflow into the air conditioner, and this will cause a drop in cooling ability. You only have to swap out the clogged air filter for a new one. Set a regular schedule for filter changes to avoid this problem in the future.
Do you suspect you need help to get your AC back to doing its best job? B&B Air Conditioning & Heating Service can help! We offer 24/7 emergency service from factory-trained technicians.
Call on B&B Air Conditioning & Heating Service for AC rescue. We are always there when you need us.
