Do You Have An Underperforming AC? 4 Possible Causes

Posted on: 18 May 2022

It can be perplexing to have an AC that is running but not effectively cooling your home. Deciding the next course of action after noticing that the system has an underlying malfunction can be difficult without properly diagnosing the problem. For this reason, it is advisable to hire an AC repair service to assess your unit and address the problem. The following are the reasons your AC may be underperforming.

Ducts That Are Leaking Water

Uninsulated ducts, sealant cracks, and worn-out ducts cause cool air to escape into the attic instead of the intended destination. This results in cooling losses as your AC consumes energy for the wrong purpose. 

Furthermore, a leak in the ducts can cause negative pressure, pulling outside air into the room. This creates potential dangers of back drafting as fumes released by vented appliances such as fireplaces are drawn back into the house. Therefore, you should hire an AC repair expert to address the issue by insulating the leaks, patching the cracks, or replacing the whole duct line if necessary.

Un-optimized Fan Speed

The AC's fan should run at a specific speed, and if not fine-tuned correctly, it may strain to cool your home. Additionally, the fan may run faster than intended to match the thermostat's temperature if its speed is miscalibrated. As a result, it will consume too much energy to sustain the speed. In this case, you should contact your technician to optimize the fan's speed and correct the calibration to enhance efficiency.

Improper Size of Your AC

If your AC is poorly sized for your home, it may result in short-cycling where it generates too much or too little output to maintain the required temperatures. This causes the thermostat to shut down frequently as the circuit breaker keeps tripping whenever it cannot complete a full cycle. It is advisable to consult an AC service expert before installing a cooling system. They will evaluate the space in your home to determine a unit size that will effectively cool it.

Defective Airflow System

Clogged air filters may impede the amount of air flowing through the coils causing the AC to operate longer to compensate for the airflow loss. Additionally, a blocked condenser unit will not adequately expel heat from the coils resulting in the AC overheating and turning off. It is important you hire an AC service technician to remove the obstruction when you notice these signs. By having the air filters and condenser unit unclogged, the unit will have sufficient air flowing for cooling to take place.

It is beneficial to hire an AC contractor to perform routine maintenance to your AC as they will detect minor issues before they impair the system's performance. Doing this helps prevent future costly repairs and extends the AC's lifespan.

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Summer is Upon Us – Is Your AC Working?

Hi. My name is Laurie Waters. The HVAC contractor was just out at our house last week and did I ever get a lesson from him. You see, we had a warm spell hit and I went to turn our air conditioning on for the first time since last summer. Much to my dismay, it wasn’t working. All I got was a blast of warm air. The fan was bringing the outdoor heat inside. Thank goodness it wasn’t anything major. My unit needed Freon. While he was here, the contractor taught me how to do some routine maintenance around my unit, vents, and filters. I’m going to share this information with you. I hope you find it to be useful.

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