Homeowners depend on cooling systems to keep their living areas at the perfect comfortable temperature throughout the summer. If it seems like your air conditioning system is cooling your house enough, there may be a system problem that needs to be repaired. Doc Dancer Heating & Air shares some reasons why air conditioners don’t seem to generate enough cooling and what should be done to fix these issues.

Air Duct Leaks

One common issue behind a struggling central air conditioning system is duct leaks. These leaks can be caused by gaps, cracks, and disconnections in the air ducts. Any of these openings can allow the cooled air generated by your air conditioner to escape the distribution system and let warm air into the mix with the indoor air supply.

In order for your AC system to cool your home effectively, the cooled air needs to be properly directed to your living rooms. Sealing up the ducts can help ensure that cool air stays in and reaches its intended destination. It can be quite difficult to assess the duct system for leaks on your own due to its largely inaccessible location, so call your HVAC company to check for leaks and seal them up.

Low Refrigerant

The air conditioner may look like it’s working, but if it’s not properly charged with refrigerant, it may not be able to cool your house to the level you want. When an air conditioner loses refrigerant, it’s likely from a refrigerant leak somewhere in the system. A refrigerant leak may stem from the compressor, coils, refrigerant lines, or other malfunctioning or damaged components.

If you think low refrigerant is the reason behind the poor performance of your AC unit, you need to have a professional inspect your system for leaks and make repairs as necessary. The professional will also recharge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. If your air conditioner is an old model that still uses R-22 refrigerant, it may be wise to go ahead and replace the entire cooling unit, as R-22 is no longer in production and recharging these systems grows more and more expensive.

Dirty Outdoor Unit

When you begin to investigate why is my air conditioner not cooling my house enough, you should start by checking on the condition of the outdoor unit. Leaves, grass, weeds, outdoor furniture, and other items around the unit’s exterior can restrict airflow through the equipment. Without proper airflow, the system cannot release heat outdoors correctly and your air conditioner won’t cool enough.

Make sure to keep the area around the unit clean and clear. Trim away any nearby branches, move any furniture stored around the unit, brush away organic debris, and weed out vegetation growing up around the unit’s base. There should be a minimum of 24 inches of open space on all sides of the air conditioner.

Dirty Air Filter

Dirty air filters are a common reason why is my air conditioner not cooling the house enough. A dirty air filter limits air movement through the cooling system, which means the system won’t receive adequate airflow to do its job correctly. To avoid this problem, check your air filter monthly throughout the year and replace it when it’s dirty. Your system’s air filter doesn’t just improve your indoor air quality, it also helps your AC unit work properly. When it becomes too clogged with airborne particles, it restricts the airflow and suffocated the system. Stay on top of changing your air filter on a regular basis to avoid these issues and keep your AC system working reliably.

Doc Dancer Can Solve Air Conditioner Issues in Fort Wayne, IN

If you have to ask why is my air conditioner not cooling my house enough, there could be a variety of issues to blame. If you’re experiencing this, it’s important to troubleshoot and identify the root cause so that you can get your home cool and comfortable again. Call Doc Dancer Heating & Air to schedule air conditioner repairs today.