When you turn on your air conditioner, you expect it to send cooled air to all the rooms in the house attached to the ventilation system. After all, that’s why you have a central air conditioner: to provide cooling all around your house.
But what if you notice the AC isn’t giving your house the even cooling treatment it’s supposed to? You can expect some temperature fluctuations in the house based on room placement, insulation, and window exposure. However, if you find rooms are much hotter than they should be while others are fine (or even too cold), you have a problem with the HVAC system.
Let’s take a look at five reasons you may have this comfort problem:
#1. Clogged air filter
The clogged air filter is one of the most common, and avoidable, problems for cooling and heating systems. If this filter is allowed to become seriously congested, it will restrict airflow through the HVAC system and into the ductwork. Not all rooms will receive the cooled air they should. Change the filter for a clean one to see if this solves the problem.
#2. Thermostat issues
The thermostat for your house may be sensing incorrect temperatures and shutting the AC’s compressor off early. If this happens, the system won’t run long enough to cool all the rooms. If you have a zone control system, one of the room thermostats may have failed and isn’t requesting cool air. Technicians can recalibrate, repair, or replace the thermostat, whatever is necessary.
#3. Short-cycling
Short-cycling is a condition where the AC system fails to complete a full cooling cycle and turns off early, usually after less than 15 minutes. This is rarely enough time for the system to send cool air evenly throughout the house. Short-cycling is damaging to the AC and causes a rise in operating costs. There are multiple potential causes for it (including a clogged filter), and we recommend calling technicians to examine the system to find the source.
#4. Leaking air ducts
The ductwork of a ventilation system must have an airtight seal for the air conditioner to maintain air pressure. If the ducts have air leaks, the pressure will drop and so will cooling in the house. Large leaks will cause a room connected to the duct to experience a larger cooling drop. Repairs require professionals to seal the ducts.
#5. Dying air conditioner
If your AC is more than ten years old, uneven cooling is often a warning that the system has aged too much and is near to needing a replacement. If the air conditioner is more than 15 years old then it’s almost certainly time to replace it. Call for West Chester, PA, HVAC experts to look over the system. Our team will give you honest answers about whether the AC can get by for a few more years with a cost-effective repair or if the better solution is a new installation.
Michall Daimion Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. is The Main Line’s Premier Service Provider—since 1976. Reach us 24/7 for emergency air conditioning repair.