Take, for example, an air conditioning system that seems to operate continuously yet never quite reaches its thermostat temperature. While this is annoying and costly, it is also a strong indication that some cooling is taking place, enough that, for some reason, it might still never catch up, as a house is gaining more cooling from external and internal sources. The possible explanation could involve a simple issue, such as airflow, or a complex problem involving a combination of thermostat evaluation, envelope, and leakage. Yet somehow this behavior often resembles a pattern: cooling occurs continuously, yet a house that goes from warm to cool, then finally cool, will stall at a temperature well above the thermostat setting.
Where the cooling is getting lost
- Heat gain can exceed the system's capacity to remove it.
Cooling represents a balance between heat gain in a home and the amount of heat the AC system must remove per hour. On very hot weekdays, heat gains enter a home through sunlit windows, an under-insulated attic, and air leaks around windows, doors, recessed light cans, and through air ducts. Cooking, taking showers, using large electrical appliances, and having people in the house all add to the heat. But if the system can't remove enough heat, the thermostat will be unhappy. Even an air conditioner that is the right size can have trouble if the filters are clogged, furniture blocks the vents, or doors inside the house block the return airflow, keeping warm air in the rooms. There's humidity to consider, too, as moisture removal uses some of the system's capacity, meaning a humid house can cool more slowly even if it feels like cold air is blowing. And if the home features big west-facing glass or an extremely hot attic, for instance, the system may be trying to cool a building that's acting like a heat battery, slowly releasing stored heat into living spaces for hours.
2. Airflow and coil problems reduce delivered cooling.
The system may continue operating without reaching the specified temperature if there is insufficient airflow over the indoor coil or the coil fails to conduct heat effectively. There may be inadequate airflow if the filter becomes too dirty or the coil face becomes matted. If the fan is not running at the proper speed, the amount of warm air delivered to the coil will be reduced. If the amount of warm current is less, it will remove less heat. If the temperature drops sufficiently, frosting will appear. Even a light amount of ice will insulate the coil. It also includes supply leaks that allow cool air to be dumped into an attic or crawlspace, while returns pull in hot air through those locations, forcing the AC to work harder and leaving less usable cool room space. During many AC Repair in Las Vegas, it has been noticed that many AC systems exhibit failure symptoms when, in reality, they are just victims of duct leaks and returns. It has also been noted that register locations are important in AC systems because of the potential for short cycling of rooms if cool air is not well mixed throughout spaces or if returns suffer from deficiencies in cool-air flow.
Turning Long Run Times Into Steady Comfort
If the AC works but the house doesn't get as warm as you want, it's probably because of a capacity or delivery issue, not the thermostat. It is because the thermostat might not be set correctly. The AC may not cool enough if the sun is too hot, the insulation is too poor, or the air is too warm. It is especially true in the afternoon when the sun is at its hottest in many places. On the other hand, restricted airflow, dirty coils, or duct leaks may limit the cooling delivered to the living space, even when the system is operating continuously. Refrigerant issues or problems with outdoor coils or fans may limit the cooling delivered by an AC, making each minute it runs less effective at cooling the house as desired. Thermostat placement and any distribution imbalances will ensure the system continues to run at the temperature specific to the area, rather than at other temperatures. By checking the load, airflow, duct, refrigerant, and outside conditions, the problem is easily identified, making the way out clear.
- Phone: (702) 710-6929
- Address: 8510 W Lake Mead Blvd Unit 5F, Las Vegas, NV, 89128
