We’re in the middle of a severe heat wave in the Northeast of the US, with record-breaking temperatures and heat advisory warnings. This is a time when you’ll be glad to have a working central air conditioning system in your home. It can literally be a lifesaver.
Yet the extreme heat can also expose an air conditioner that can’t keep pace with demands. Is it just because the heatwave is more than the air conditioner was designed to take? That’s unlikely. If your AC was accurately sized for your house when it was installed (and we’ll talk more about that below), it should still manage a comfortable temperature indoors even with 100°F heat outside. It will need to run for longer to maintain comfort, but it should be capable of delivering.
If you have an AC that’s struggling to manage the heat, you may need to have air conditioning repair in Ocean City, MD. Perhaps even a full replacement. We know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s best to find out as soon as possible if you need AC help—before you don’t have any cooling at all.
Why Is This Happening?
First, is this a new air conditioning system going through its first summer cooling your house? If it is, then it’s likely the AC received a poor installation and isn’t the right size for your home. An air conditioner that’s undersized won’t have the capacity to cool the entire house. You might not have noticed this until the heat started to skyrocket. The only way to correct an undersized AC is to replace it. Always work with licensed professionals to install an AC, since they’ll take the time to size the system to meet your home’s cooling requirements.
If this is an old air conditioner, this inferior cooling may be a sign the system is starting to die. This is a possibility if the AC is more than 12 years old, and especially if it’s more than 15. Even the best maintenance done annually can’t stop an air conditioner from wearing down at this point and losing its cooling capacity. Talk to our technicians to see if it’s best to schedule a air conditioning replacement ASAP.
On the simpler side, your AC may have a dirty air filter in place that needs to be swapped for a clean one. This filter will become congested after one to three months. If it isn’t changed, it will start to limit the AC’s cooling ability. Put in a new filter to see if this improves the cooling system’s performance.
There are several different repair issues that can cause an air conditioner to have trouble with its regular cooling:
- Leaking refrigerant
- A faulty blower motor
- Dirty condenser coils
- Malfunctioning thermostats
Our technicians can solve all of these problems. We’ll quickly diagnose the source of your AC’s trouble and then apply the targeted repair that will ensure you have your cool home restored.
At Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc., “We take pride in your comfort!” Call us today for AC service in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.