The reason your AC is being uncool
Right now, we’re in the last days of summer where the days can be cool, or they can be unbelievably hot. Therefore, we know you’re still using your air conditioning equipment and may have questions about its performance. This week’s blog focuses on one AC question we get quite often.
I grew up in Southern California, so it goes without saying that the weather was almost always warm. Most summer days would get so hot it was unbearable. One summer when I was 7, I had collected enough box tops from my daily bowls of Cream of Wheat Cereal, that I was able to get a free thermometer which we hung under our overhang. I remember clearly looking outside and seeing that the temperature was 120 degrees (in the shade!).
We had an inground pool which was a lifesaver during the super hot summer months, but to get to the pool you had to run across 10 feet of sun-exposed concrete. Like a game of “the floor is lava” we had to dart between shadows on the concrete cast by trees and hanging plants to save our feet from getting burned until we could jump into the cool water. On the hottest of days, the water was only a small relief as the water temperature was only about 20 degrees cooler than the outside air temperature. Not unlike the outside and inside temperature difference of your HVAC equipment.
We get many calls from customers telling us that there is something wrong with their Air Conditioning system because it is not cooling to its desired temperature. Our Customer Service Representatives tell customers daily that our systems are designed to maintain up to a 20-degree split. We do not design them for a 25-30-degree split because systems would be oversized which would lead to other issues including high humidity and short cycling. When the heat index is above 95 degrees (take in mind the humidity) your system is working its hardest to keep the temperature down, but your home may feel a little warmer. Turning the thermostat down is not going to help your home become cooler, but it will make the system keep running to reach your desired temperature, therefore wasting energy that could drive up your utility bill.
However, there may be other reasons your AC is not reaching the set temperature. This could include a dirty filter, a dirty or blocked condenser (shrubs, fences, leaves, dirt, or debris), leaks in your refrigerant line or ductwork, an older system, or a system that is undersized for your home.
Reiner Group, Inc. offers service and repair as well as free estimates for system replacements or installations of new systems. If you’re concerned about your AC not reaching its set temperature, please call us today!