Do you wonder why isn’t my ac unit keeping up in this hot weather!? Here are six tips if your air conditioner is not cooling.
Look at the air filters if your air conditioner is running but blowing warm air or air that's not cold enough. Regularly changing your air filter is one simple fix for your air conditioner to keep up in hot weather. A dirty air filter can cause blockages to airflow, making your system work harder than it should. We recommend changing your air filters at least every three months.
You've replaced the air filter and are still not feeling cold air? Another cause for your air conditioning system to slow its cooling is a clogged, blocked, or frozen evaporator coil in your outdoor unit. Sometimes debris like dirt and grass can accumulate in your air conditioning unit, which could cause the air conditioner to malfunction or to operate inefficiently.
Your system might also be low on freon. Many older air conditioner units run on R-22, which is being phased out since it harms the ozone layer. Adding freon to your ac unit could be a solution to getting your air conditioner blowing cold air again, but only temporarily. One customer was shocked that the R-22 per liter was over $100 a pound, so she opted to invest in a new central air conditioning system to replace her 20-year-old air conditioner. Check out our affordable maintenance plans.
Your central air conditioning system is a workhorse. And you might consider adjusting your expectations and changing your thermostat settings. If you expect your home to be 60 degrees inside when it’s 100 degrees outside, that will be nearly impossible for your air conditioner to keep up. Most air conditioning units cool the air in your home 20 degrees from the outside temperature. So as those hot triple-digit days arrive, consider adjusting your thermostat to 78 degrees. Your central air conditioner is a workhorse that can run 12-20 hours daily, depending on how toasty it gets outside. So don’t forget to have it checked out if you haven’t already. Your friends at Lorenz have affordable maintenance plans to ensure your air conditioner is in working order.
Your air conditioner might also have trouble keeping up with the hot temperatures if you have air leaks or insufficient insulation in your home. You want your home to be sealed shut so it can keep all the cool air inside your home and not have it escaping out the windows, doors, or attic.If you have an older home, it can wear down over time. Insulation can compact over time, affecting how hard your air conditioner runs. For example, if you put insulation in your home 20 years ago, it’s much less fluffy and has settled over time. Might be time to consider adding some more insulation. Quality of construction can also make a huge impact. Items such as upgrading your windows are a great way to increase your home’s efficiency and a great investment in your home.
If after you have adjusted the thermostat and after checking the filter, the freon, the evaporator coil, and your home's insulation, doors, and windows, and the AC still isn't working as expected, it may be time to consider replacing your HVAC system.
The quick answer is that it depends on the age and quality of your home. Several other factors go into a math equation to calculate the right ac system load for your home or business air conditioner. From the square footage, age, and type of home to the direction it faces, these all affect the size of your HVAC system. Lorenz Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning can perform a load analysis to determine which air conditioner is best for your needs.
But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a mathematician to figure this out. Lorenz Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning calculates these numbers daily and can ensure you get the right one for your home or business. They encourage homeowners and business owners to get multiple estimates when replacing their air conditioners. Call your friends at Lorenz at 417-863-1122, they’ll do what’s right for you.
