An air conditioner can struggle to keep up during the extreme heat of summer. This can lead to uncomfortable interior conditions, poor air quality, and equipment strain. It’s important that you understand why your AC struggles and how to fix it. This allows you to maintain a safe, comfortable, and efficient home as temperatures rise.
AC Equipment Size
Proper sizing is an important part of AC installation. If you have a unit that’s too small, it may run frequently to try to keep up with your temperature demands. Worse, your home may never feel consistently cool during summer. Too large a unit can also be a problem. You may experience short cycling. If your cooling equipment isn’t completing a full cycle, cool air may not make it to every living space in your house.
Have a professional perform a Manual J load calculation. The size of your home, the number of windows and doors you have, and insulation levels help determine equipment size.
Airflow Restriction
If airflow through your system is insufficient, this can make your AC run more often. There are several causes of airflow restriction, one being a dirty filter. Change your filter every 30 to 90 days. If you live in an area with high levels of pollution or have pets, consider more frequent filter changes.
Go through your home and make sure that all your vents and registers are open. Many homeowners close certain vents to try to direct cool air to specific rooms. However, this can restrict airflow, cause equipment strain, and reduce cooling power.
Low Levels of Refrigerant
A leak in your refrigerant lines will lead to low levels of refrigerant in your cooling system. This problem leads to insufficient cooling, leaving your AC to struggle trying to keep up. Don’t run your AC if you know you have a refrigerant leak. This can cause damage to the compressor.
A professional can test for leaks, perform repairs, and recharge your system. Schedule a routine inspection each year before the start of summer to catch leaks early.
Low Levels of Insulation
If your home lacks insulation, your AC may run frequently to keep up with the heat entering your house. Adding insulation to your attic or crawlspaces keeps cool air inside and hot air outside. You can also add weatherstripping around doors and windows.
Insulating your ductwork helps maintain the temperature of the air coming from your AC. Cool air will end up where you need it to be without having to overuse your air conditioner. This upgrade also helps protect your indoor air quality. You may not need to run your AC as often to address odors or allergens. If you live in North Salt Lake, UT or a surrounding area and need AC repair services, make your first call to Alta Air.