No one likes to be uncomfortably hot in the summer, but then again no one wants to see an energy bill for an air conditioning unit that’s been running non-stop either. If you want to stay cool and save cash, the best thing you can do is take phenomenal care of your system and know when it’s time to reach out for professional help. To make things easier, below are some of the most common reasons your A/C unit might be running continuously, and what you might be able to do to fix it!
Filthy Filters
If your air filters are all clogged up with dirt, dust, and debris, all that cold air is getting stuck in your vents and not cooling your house down. Your house, recognizing that the air isn’t getting any cooler, will keep running you’re air conditioning unit until the desired temperature is reached. Simply changing your air filters, cleaning out your vents, and removing any furniture from in front of your vents will dramatically improve airflow – keeping your house cool while also finally allowing your system to take a well-deserved break.
Testy Thermostats
If your thermostat cannot properly register the conditions of your home, you may simply have a little communication error between systems causing your air conditioning to keep running. To check, try putting a thermometer near your thermostat and checking the temperatures after a few hours. If it’s cool enough inside your home according to the thermometer but you’re air conditioning is still going, your thermostat is likely faulty and may need replacement.
Insufficient Insulation & Lousy Leaks
If your home’s insulation is riddled with weak spots where all your precious cool air can escape, or your ducts have small cracks or leaks, you might notice your air conditioning running more than usual since the cold air isn’t able to actually fill your home the way it’s supposed to. To fix this problem, you need to find the source of the leaks and have them repaired, and/or seal the gaps in your insulation.
Compromised A/C Coils
Like with filters, your evaporator and condenser coils can get dirty and clogged up over time. While routine maintenance can help reduce build-up and cut down on problems associated with your coils, if your system is already showing signs of inefficiency and cleaning everything out didn’t work, you should contact a professional to come out perform a total system check-up just in case.
Unsuitable Size & Improper Installation
If you’re air conditioning unit is not the right size for your home, it will not ever run as efficiently as it could. If it’s too small, it will have to work twice as hard as a larger system to keep your home cool. If it’s too large, it may not be able to effectively remove all the moisture in the air (in this case your unit may have shorter run times, but will nonetheless still result in higher energy bills due to excess electricity use). If you’re ducts are too big or small compared to your unit, your airflow will be compromised.
Must Need Maintenance
All of your HVAC systems should be inspected and/or serviced at least twice a year, when things start to heat up and again when it cools down. If your air conditioning is not working to the best of it’s ability and you’ve done everything you can already to try and fix it yourself, you may just need to have a professional come take a look. It could be an easy fix, like a worn out part, or a more complex problem that could put your system at greater risk.
Requires Replacement
If your system is really old, as in 10 years or more, it might be time to just say goodbye and opt for a total replacement. Doing so will be better off for you in the long run anyway because of all the new energy and cost-saving features included with all the newer available models!
Just remember, if you really feel like you have no idea what you’re doing and you’d rather be safe than sorry when in comes to your air conditioning, you can always get help from trained HVAC experts, like ours at AFM Heating & Cooling. After all, were confident we can help you find and solve whatever problem you’re having lickety-split! Call AFM Heating & Cooling at 734.464.6700 for a free consultation, or simply fill out the form in the sidebar, today.
