Why is my AC not keeping up with the Thermostat?

01 Oct Why is my AC not keeping up with the Thermostat?

Kingsport TN

When you live in East Tennessee, you need a reliable and efficient AC unit to keep you cool during the hot summer. And it can be frustrating when your AC unit doesn’t keep up with the set temperature on the thermostat. While heat waves can cause AC units to struggle maintaining a comfortable temperature, your home should remain fairly cool, and able to maintain a consistent temperature. So today on the blog, our AC installers at Thompson Electrical Service share common reasons why AC units fail to keep homes cool.

Maintenance Required

AC units require regular maintenance at least once a year to clean the unit and ensure all parts and mechanisms are working properly. During these AC maintenance visits, the technician will check your refrigerant level, clean the evaporator coil, and identify any potential issues that could result in a total unit failure later. So, while you may not want to chalk up the money for these routine maintenance visits, they are well worth every penny to keep your unit running smoothly and to help keep you cool all summer long.

Leaking Ducts

Damaged or leaking ducts can result in air leaks, energy loss, and cooling inefficiency. These issues may also strain your AC unit as it’s constantly losing cool air in the walls, attic, or basement (wherever your ducts are located), to keep up and maintain a comfortable temperature. Duct leaks can also reduce indoor air quality as the leaks collect dust and allergens that are pumped into your home through the air registers (vents).

Wrong Sized AC Unit

It’s essential to have a correctly sized AC unit or it could result in insufficient air cooling or total unit failure. An undersized unit may struggle to keep the air inside your home cool. Furthermore, an over-sized AC unit may cause an excess of humidity as it may shut off too soon and not properly dehumidify before shutting off. The humidity level inside your home should never be more than 30-50%. Additionally, having an incorrectly sized AC unit means the unit runs inefficiently, leaving your home too humid, too hot, and costing you more in energy bills each month.

Debris Buildup

If the temp inside your home seems warmer than usual, even with the unit running, it could be a collection of debris in the outside unit, which makes the fan work harder. Cleaning inside the unit is usually simple, but you must shut off the AC first, then remove the cover from the unit. You can remove leaves or other debris and ensure the unit is clean before securing the cover back in place. Then, start the unit again and see if it cools better than before the cleaning. Additionally, ensure that you do not have any grass, weeds, or shrubs crowding the outside unit, which could reduce the fan’s airflow.

Poor Attic Ventilation and Insulation

Inadequate attic ventilation and insulation may cause the air inside the ducts to warm slightly before being pushed into your home, resulting in warm (instead of cool) air coming through the vents. Additionally, an excess buildup of heat inside the attic will make it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home as the unit struggles to keep up. Check around doors and windows and ensure that they are properly sealed. Also, call a professional to assess the ventilation and insulation in your attic and determine if it meets code. If not, you may want to consider addressing those issues to maximize your unit’s efficiency.

HVAC Service in Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, TN

The best way to keep your AC unit running smoothly and to stay cool during the heat is schedule routine maintenance visits with Thompson Electrical Service. We can ensure your AC unit is up to speed and ready to handle the heat to keep you comfortable as the season changes into fall. Sometimes, however, the issues mentioned aren’t the cause of your unit failing to keep up with the thermostat. In these cases, the unit could have a mechanical failure that needs to be fixed by a qualified HVAC technician. Call our Tri-Cities HVAC pros at (423) 343-5726 to schedule an appointment today.