This is a common problem people run into with their air conditioning systems. After several years of having no difficulty sending enough cooling to all the rooms, the AC starts to keep some areas cooled down while others turn into hot spots.
If this is happening to you, you’ll want to know why and how to correct it. In many cases, uneven cooling happens because of an AC malfunction that requires professional repairs. We’ll go over the most common reason for uneven cooling from an air conditioner and the best steps to take.
Clogged blower filter
Before you do anything else about your AC, locate the blower filter for the HVAC system. It will either be behind the return air vent inside the house or located in a slot on the HVAC cabinet where the return air duct connects to the blower. Check if the filter is extremely dirty with dust and debris and change it if it is. A clogged blower filter restricts how much air the AC can draw in and cool down, lowering the amount of cooled air it can distribute. In general, you want to have the filter changed every one to three months to prevent future problems.
Faulty thermostat
You may have a thermostat that’s incorrectly registering temperatures in your house so that it senses the house is cooler than it is. This will cause the thermostat to shut off the AC early so it won’t run long enough to spread cool air to all the rooms. The thermostat could have other malfunctions that are leading to it turning off the AC early. HVAC technicians can easily correct these problems.
Leaky air ducts
The reason some rooms aren’t getting enough cooling may be because the cold air is escaping from holes in the ducts leading to them. Leaky air ducts are a common problem and often escape attention because it’s hard to see most of the ductwork. Our technicians can test your ducts to determine if they have leaks, and if they do, we’ll use special equipment to seal the leaks and make the HVAC system airtight once again.
Short-cycling
This is when the air conditioning system keeps turning on and off rapidly, failing to complete a cooling cycle and not getting enough cooling into the house. There are many different sources of short-cycling, so call on pros to examine the AC to locate the underlying issue.
Worn-down air conditioner
Uneven cooling is one of the major signs of an air conditioning system coming to the end of its life. If you keep up with regular AC maintenance in Bergen County, NJ, you can expect to get your system close to 15 years of service. If your air conditioner is older than that, we recommend you consider having the unit replaced when cooling becomes uneven because it warns that the AC is simply too worn down to do the best job anymore. Ask our technicians for advice about whether to replace your AC or attempt to repair it.
DB Heating & Cooling, Inc serves the heating and cooling needs of customers throughout Rockland County, NY as well as Bergen County, NJ and surrounding communities. You can count on us for expert services. Contact us today!