An air filter full of dust and dirt can prevent your AC unit from providing even cooling. If the air filter in the hotter room is completely dirty, this could be your problem. Be sure to check your filter monthly so you know when it's time for a replacement.
Sun beating down on the house can counteract the AC, making it hard for your system to keep up. Other potential issues with the home itself are improper insulation and leaks, insufficient or blocked vents, and high humidity. All of these can make it feel warmer in your home, even with the AC on full blast.
Your Air Vents are Closed or Obstructed
If you have closed your air vents, or your vents are obstructed by furniture or upholstery, proper airflow is being disrupted. This can most certainly cause some rooms in your home to be hotter than others, while placing extra strain on your HVAC system.
Perhaps the most common cause of AC issues is clogged filters. Dirt, pet hair, pollen and dust can clog your filters. When filters get clogged, they begin to restrict the flow of air through your AC. The result is that the AC doesn't cool your indoor air effectively.
Ideally, your AC should run for 15 minutes on nice, warm days. Only on those rare triple-digit temperature days should your air conditioner be running almost all the time. If your AC isn't following this pattern, you could have a problem.
Most air conditioning systems are designed to function with outside temperatures of 100 degrees or less. When temperatures outside become higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the air conditioning system can consume more energy and begin to malfunction or fail.
This can be typically be fixed by increasing the air duct size or adding a booster fan for those distant rooms. For these instances, it's important to note, any increase in cooling will also result in an equal increase in heating.
For the AC to cool the room better, turn off the lights and also exhaust the fan if there's any. Turning off lights reduces the heat level in the room and lets the AC cool better. Turning off exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom also helps with better cooling.
However, if your home has an insufficient number of return air vents, it could be causing one room to be hotter than the next. You can circumvent this problem by contacting an HVAC professional to add more return ducts to your home. There could, of course, also be a problem with your HVAC system itself.
The first thing you should know is that your system is typically not designed for 100º heat. HVAC systems are designed for an average temperature in your area. Your system is also designed to cool to a maximum of 20º below the temperature outside.
The primary reason for an AC not cooling below 75 degrees is a dirty air filter. The air filter traps unwanted elements like dust, dirt, and debris, ensuring they don't reach the evaporator coil. In doing so, they may block the filter, causing your AC unit to malfunction.
It usually takes around two and a half to three and a half hours to cool your house from 80 to 72 degrees. However, a variety of different factors can affect the time it takes to reach the desired temperature, including the thermostat setting, the size of the house, and the efficiency of the air filters.
Your Ductwork May Need Professional Attention
If you aren't getting sufficient airflow throughout your home when the AC system is running and your cooling bills are rising, your ductwork could be the culprit. It could be leaking that vital cool air into the unconditioned areas of your home.
If your air conditioner isn't keeping up with the heat, your air filter may be to blame. A dirty air filter can obstruct the airflow path through the unit. Using a dirty air filter can also cause less energy efficiency and more costly utility bills.
You might be low on refrigerant or have a worn out motor or a dirty evaporator coil. Not all AC problems demonstrate themselves with loud sounds or funny odors coming from your system. Some of them simply reduce the AC's ability to run, and all you notice is less cool air in the house.
If the temperatures outside are approaching triple digits, you should set your thermostat at about 78°. A higher setting helps to: Reduce stress on your AC system. Avoid wasted energy costs.
Modern air conditioning units are designed to run 24 hours a day. There is no harm in having it run to keep your home cool all day long. If you wanted to, you could have your AC unit running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If your thermostat is set on “auto”, your AC compressor does not run 24 hours a day.
Consider ramping up the dial
They recommend that when it's 90 degrees outside, you should try setting your air conditioning thermostat at 80 degrees or higher. And when it's 95 to 100 degrees outside (and higher), you should set your thermostat at 85 degrees or higher.
Well, certain problems can prevent an air conditioner from properly cooling down your home including: A dirty air filter. A blocked condenser. A refrigerant leak.
If it's a normal day and your AC is taking a long time to cool your home, you may have one of the following problems: A dirty air filter. Dirty condenser or evaporator coil. A refrigerant leak.
How Long Should It Take for the AC to Cool My House? Generally speaking, it should take one hour per degree to reach the temperature set on your thermostat. For an average three-bedroom home, it typically takes about three hours.
Check the filter
As we've said many times, that soft, meshy device provides some hard reinforcement to your air conditioner. In this case, if a filter is loaded with dust and dirt, it could be interfering with your air conditioner's ability to cool your home. Now might well be the time to pop in a fresh filter.
Just like a person after a workout it needs a break. If your unit has to work too hard it will eventually need an expensive air conditioner repair. Using a few simple tips and tricks can give your AC unit an occasional break which will keep it running smoothly.
Once you have the right size air conditioner, there's still an ideal temperature range to consider. It's best to not set your thermostat lower than 70 to 72 degrees. Most units are not designed to cool a house below that point, and you risk the system freezing up.