I'm having trouble with my A/C not cooling my house effectively. It's currently 78 degrees inside despite setting the thermostat to 70. I can hear the unit running, and the filter is fine for another two weeks. With the outside temperatures starting to drop, I'm concerned we might face another heat wave before fall, so I'm looking for advice on what might be wrong. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
Make sure the compressor outside is actually running; sometimes only the indoor fan operates while the compressor fails. If that's the case, it could be a simple issue like a faulty starter capacitor. There's plenty of helpful videos online to guide you through diagnosing and fixing it yourself, so I suggest checking that out first!
If all else fails, you might have to call in a professional. Generally, your A/C system should handle temperatures below 78 degrees outside, so it shouldn't be struggling this much.
Firstly, you should check if the outside unit is clean, and make sure the coils inside are also clear. An HVAC tech can help determine if there's a leak, which might be impacting performance. Also, note that the air filter doesn't greatly affect cooling efficiency, so don’t stress about changing that just yet. If leaks are happening inside your home, sealing them could also improve your A/C's effectiveness.
Okay, thanks for the tips! We had some storms recently that might have caused damage, so I'll have my partner check for any leaks tomorrow.
Yeah, we're a bit tight on cash right now, so I really want to troubleshoot before calling a pro just to find out it’s something simple!