When your home cooling system is functioning the way it was designed to, it operates in cycles.
Generally, a cycle lasts anywhere from roughly 15 to 20 minutes at a time. When a cycle begins, the system will kick on and it will continue operating until it goes down to the temperature level you desire (this is the temperature to which you set your thermostat). Once it achieves that temperature, it will then cycle off for some time.
That being said, if your A/C is continually running and it’s not cooling off your home, you have a legitimate cause for concern. It shouldn’t be doing this. On top of it NOT cooling your home, if this is happening it’s also going to increase your energy consumption, which leads to higher energy bills while placing unnecessary strain on your system. This strain tends to decrease its lifespan. Because our summers can get hot here in Ohio, everybody needs a cool place of retreat from the heat.
If your air conditioner isn’t cooling your home and you’d like to investigate the problem on your own before reaching out to an HVAC technician, we at Mason Heating & Air present the following things to check:
My A/C Not Cooling Checklist:
Air Filter Needs Replacing
When your A/C is running non-stop and you realize it’s not cooling the place off, the first thing you should check is your air filter.
If an A/C filter needs to be replaced, it restricts the airflow into your home. As a result of this hindrance, it limits your system’s capacity and ability to reduce moisture from the air you breathe. Poor airflow over the coils prevents it from removing humidity. As a result, your home will feel warmer and your system will run constantly.
The Wrong Type of Filter is in Place
While we’re discussing air filters, we should specify if your A/C isn’t cooling your home there’s also a chance the air filter you’re using might be too restrictive for your specific system. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to have the incorrect type of filter in place. With a comprehensive variety of air filters available nowadays, not all of them are intended to work with all varieties of systems. The air filter you have could have a MERV rating that is too high. The acronym
MERV, which is short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is an air filter rating system that runs from 1 to 16. The rating of the air filter you are using should be the right one for your particular system. Be sure to ascertain the correct MERV rating for your home’s system.
Leaky Air Ducts
Another prevalent reason an A/C might not be doing the trick could have nothing to do with the actual A/C unit itself. In order for all that treated and chilled air to reach you and all the rooms in your residence, it first has to travel through your ductwork.
Over the summers of usage, air ducts can become loose or they can lose insulation. The tape connecting them might fall off. Or, they might not have been installed with a tight seal to begin with. When this occurs, it can allow air to leak out. When cool air begins escaping through leaking ductwork, it makes it difficult for your A/C system to lower the temperature to the level you desire. Understanding this, if you suspect the air ducts in your home might be leaking, or that they’re old and might need to be examined, give us a call to schedule an inspection. We would be happy to come over and take a look!
Inadequate Refrigerant Levels
Cooling systems require certain levels of refrigerant to keep any home nice, cool and cozy during the hot weeks of summer. If your system lacks the refrigerant levels it needs, there is a good possibility you might have a refrigerant leak in the coils. If this is the problem, your system will not be able to keep your home as cool as you’d like. This is a common reason why a homeowner’s A/C system might keep running non-stop. While the A/C system strives to cool your home, without enough refrigerant, it’ll just be spinning its wheels and this will increase your energy bills while at the same time decreasing the lifespan of your expensive system. Because refrigerant is hazardous to handle, we strongly suggest you schedule an inspection with one of our trusted HVAC technicians if you believe this is the problem.
High-Quality, Affordable A/C Service
If your A/C is struggling to keep your home nice and cool this summer, our team at Mason Heating & Air would be happy to help. We offer comprehensive A/C repair services, emergency repair services, maintenance agreements, and full A/C installation, all of which are at competitive rates. All of our work is guaranteed and insured as we are a Five Star Rated family business established on family values.
Call Mason Heating & Air at 513-496-2477, or schedule an appointment right now by clicking here!
