An air conditioner that’s not providing enough cooling creates serious discomfort in your Birmingham, Alabama home. Don’t sweat through the summer months with insufficient cooling from an air conditioner that can’t meet your needs! In our most recent blog, Douglas Cooling & Heating explains why air conditioners may not provide enough cooling and what you can do to correct it.

Why You Have an Air Conditioner That’s Not Providing Sufficient Cooling

When a central air conditioner produces some cool air but not enough to maintain comfort, there is something up within your AC system. The issues below are commonly to blame when homeowners experience an air conditioner that’s not cooling enough and what can be done to fix them.

1. Dirty air filter
2. Dirty condenser coils
3. Dirty condenser unit
4. Low refrigerant
5. Bad compressor
6. Incorrect thermostat settings
7. Malfunctioning thermostat
8. Old HVAC system

Dirty Air Filter

When your air conditioner’s filter is filled with contaminants, the filter turns into a roadblock for air passing through the system. The dirty filter stops enough air from reaching the evaporator coil for heat removal, so your air conditioner won’t provide enough cooling because not enough air is making its way through the unit! Check your filter monthly, and change it when it becomes full to avoid this possibility.

Dirty Condenser Coils

The condenser coils in the outdoor unit can become covered in dirt and grime. This layer of yuck blocks the coil’s ability to release heat from the home’s air supply. With the heat transfer process blocked, the air conditioner won’t be able to remove as much heat from the air, and your room air will feel warmer.

You can clean the coils yourself by shutting off power to the AC unit, removing the top grille and fan, and scrubbing the coils with a mild soap. Or, call your heating, cooling or indoor air quality pro to take care of it for you.

Dirty Condenser Unit

The outdoor condenser unit can become dirty and clogged with weeds, grass clippings, mulch, leaves, and other bits that stick along its fins, as well as shrubs and nearby vegetation growing up against the unit. These debris and plants obstruct the unit so air cannot freely flow through, which is needed for the heat transfer process. Your air conditioner cannot release the heat it pulled from the indoor air, so it’ll just have to go back into your air supply.

The solution here involves cleaning the outdoor unit regularly. Pull weeds, brush off debris, prune trees and shrubs, and don’t store stuff up against the unit.

Low Refrigerant

When system refrigerant levels fall due to a refrigerant leak, the air conditioner doesn’t have enough to extract heat from indoor air or move heat between the indoor and outdoor unit. So you’ll have an AC that’s not cooling enough. This problem should be addressed by your trusted HVAC pro.

Bad Compressor

The compressor in the condenser unit makes refrigerant the right pressure for absorbing heat and transferring it. When the compressor starts to go bad, it is unable to maintain correct refrigerant pressure so the cooling system doesn’t do as good of a job. Your HVAC technician will also need to examine this component and perform the replacement if needed.

Incorrect Thermostat Settings

If you leave the system fan ON instead of setting it to AUTO, it’s going to run 24/7. In between cooling cycles, it will be pushing hot, humid air from the ducts into your living spaces – which doesn’t feel comfortable. Simply flip that switch to AUTO and you’ve solved the problem!

Malfunctioning Thermostat

Once thermostat sensors wear out, they won’t accurately read room temperatures. This could cause the thermostat to signal short cooling cycles thinking the room is properly cooled while it still feels quite warm to you. If this occurs, thermostat replacement is in the cards, so consult your HVAC technician to find a new model.

Old HVAC System

When heating and air conditioning systems are on their way out, they gradually lose their ability to keep comfort levels where they should be indoors. If you have a central air conditioning system that’s not cooling enough and it’s worsened over time, this might be your problem. Unfortunately, system replacement is the solution here.

Cooling Repairs in Birmingham, AL

If your air conditioner isn’t providing enough cooling and you can’t seem to fix it with the above tips, give Douglas Cooling & Heating a call! Our technicians will diagnose your system and perform needed repairs so you can enjoy the full effects of your air conditioner.

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Your heating and air conditioning system is essential for your comfort indoors throughout the year. When you need HVAC repairs, it can be stressful, overwhelming and potentially a financial nightmare. Investing in a preventative maintenance plan will reduce the number of HVAC repairs needed throughout the year on your HVAC system.

Below are the most common HVAC repairs and their causes. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating early if you notice something is wrong with your heating and air conditioning system. We will stop the problem before it escalates into a full-blown HVAC system failure.

Learn More About Your Heating and Cooling System

The most obvious sign your heating and air conditioning unit is malfunctioning is when your home isn’t the right temperature, or your energy bill is rising when the thermostat isn’t moving.

It’s hard to diagnose the problem on your own, which is why it’s best to call an HVAC professional as soon as you notice something wrong with your heating and cooling equipment. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for:

Refrigerant Leaks

A common problem with air conditioners are refrigerant leaks. Your air conditioner system uses refrigerant to create the cool air flowing into your home. When the refrigerant is low or empty, your unit can’t function properly.

A sign that your refrigerant may be leaking is if your cooling system is blowing warm air, which can be a disaster in the summer. When a refrigerant leak isn’t dealt with immediately, it can cause the condenser to work harder, resulting in unnecessary wear and tear on your cooling system.

Schedule HVAC repairs with our NATE-certified technicians soon so we can fix the leak and get your cooling system operating efficiently for the summer.

Thermostat Issues

Your heating and cooling system depends on your thermostat to communicate accurate readings throughout the year. A malfunctioning thermostat forces the HVAC unit to operate more often to keep ideal temperatures in your home.

You can start by checking the batteries. If that’s not the issue, you will need to schedule a heating or air conditioning repair with a licensed professional. The sensor inside your thermostat might be broken, and our NATE-certified technicians are trained to repair your thermostat functions quickly.

Airflow Restrictions

Throughout the year, your heating and air conditioning system depends on adequate airflow to deliver ideal temperatures to every room in your house.

When dirt, dust and other debris accumulate inside your HVAC equipment and ductwork, it prevents your unit from operating efficiently and forces it to work harder. Dirty air filters are the most common reason for airflow restrictions. Furnace filters should be replaced every few months.

If a dirty air filter isn’t the problem, schedule professional duct cleaning services with Douglas Cooling & Heating. We will clean and remove any obstructions in your ducts so your heating and cooling system can operate smoothly year-round.

Electronic Control Failure

Over time, the compressor and fan controls wear out, leaving you with air conditioning problems. If you notice your HVAC unit cycles on and off frequently, call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule an HVAC repair.

It might be that your cooling system is too large or the terminals and wires are corroding. Either way, our licensed HVAC technicians will assess the situation and provide you with a solution to keep you comfortable in your home.

24/7 Club Membership from Douglas Cooling & Heating

The best way to keep your HVAC system operating properly year-round is with proper maintenance. We recommend regular maintenance twice per year; once in the spring for your AC and again the fall for your heating system. Preventative maintenance will check to make sure all of your system’s components are in good working order and will catch any HVAC problems before they grow into more serious problems and expensive repairs.

When you sign up for Douglas Cooling & Heating’ 24/7 Club Membership for a low monthly cost, you’ll receive several perks, including two HVAC visits and one plumbing visit per year. You’ll also receive a 10% discount on new system installation, among the many benefits.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for HVAC Repairs – You’ll Be Glad You Did

Don’t let a small problem with your heating and cooling system escalate into an expensive problem in the future. Schedule HVAC repairs early with our NATE-certified technicians.

We do “whatever it takes” to ensure your unit is operating efficiently without causing you more stress. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule preventive HVAC maintenance early or to schedule HVAC repairs for your system.

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As a homeowner, the most important step you can take to maintain your HVAC system is to regularly change your air conditioner filter. To keep your cooling system in top shape this season and beyond, Douglas Cooling & Heating explains why a clean filter is so beneficial for your HVAC system, ways to make filter changes quick and easy, and when you should call our team for professional assistance.

Clean Filters Are Critical to HVAC Performance and Efficiency

The filter within your heating and cooling system serves as a protector for all the delicate sensors and components housed within your indoor HVAC equipment cabinet. Many believe the filter’s sole purpose is to remove airborne pollutants and improve air quality inside the home – this is merely a bonus the filter delivers by doing its primary job.

Over time, the air filter becomes full of contaminants that clog up its surface area. This leaves no more surface for the filter media to capture particles that circulate through the system. Therefore, those contaminants circulate into the HVAC equipment and back into your living areas.

Operating your heating and cooling system when you don’t change your air filter doesn’t just cause problems related to more contaminants in the air. Because the surface of the filter is clogged with particles, the filter restricts air movement through it. Air conditioners and furnaces rely on proper airflow through the system to operate efficiently. Without a clean filter, the HVAC equipment must use more energy to circulate air. This wastes energy, increases your utility bills, and can even cause the system to overheat and sustain damage.

If you want to keep your heating and cooling equipment in good condition, keep your energy bills low, and breathe cleaner air inside your home, change your AC filter regularly.

Tips to Help You Change Your HVAC Filter

It’s tough to say exactly when you need to change your AC filter. Frequency depends on the type of filter you use in your system, how often your HVAC unit runs, and attributes about your household that affect indoor air quality, such as indoor pets, smoking inside the house, family members with allergies or asthma, etc. Low quality filters often need changed monthly while those with higher MERV ratings can last much longer.

As a general rule, you should check your filter every month to see if you need to change it. Simply remove the filter from the cabinet and take a look. If the filter media surface is covered with grey matter and no clear space is left, it’s time to change it. If it is difficult to tell, try this trick – hold the filter up to a light; if you can see the light shining through then there is still some life left, but if not, go ahead and replace it with a new one.

Many people forget this important maintenance step because filters are out of sight, out of mind. Try marking this task on your calendar or setting a reminder in your phone each month to help you remember to change your AC filter regularly.

When You Need Help

Most homeowners find it possible to change their HVAC filter without any outside help. But there may be times where you need professional help. Here are a few scenarios where you should call our heating and air conditioning technicians to assist with your air filter change needs:

• You can’t find where the filter is located.
• If you cannot remove the filter from its compartment.
• If the filter compartment covering is stuck, and you cannot detach it to access the filter.
• If the new filter doesn’t fit inside your system correctly after you change the old filter, even though it is the correct dimensions.
• The filter falls out of its frame and becomes stuck in the HVAC equipment.
• You remove the old filter and find out that it’s wet and moldy.

HVAC Help from Douglas Cooling & Heating

If you have issues when you change your air filters, don’t hesitate to call us for help. The pros of Douglas Cooling & Heating are here to help you care for your cooling equipment, and we will make sure your system is good to go with the right filter! Contact us today to schedule service.

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