Inefficient cooling is a very common problem with most ACs. It can cause significant distress to the users as this defeats the purpose of owning an AC.
While the exact reason why your AC is not cooling properly can be determined only by a professional, there are general reasons why this problem might be occurring. Some of these are easy to solve by yourself while others require urgent help from a technician. Read along to find out how you can improve the cooling efficiency of your AC.
Reasons That Might Be Causing Your AC To Not Cool Properly:
There are multiple reasons why your AC might not be cooling properly. We have listed all the major reasons below, go through each one to find out which might be causing your AC to cool ineffectively.
1. Clogged Air Filter:
Air filters are the most common reason why your AC might be giving ineffective cooling. Air filters as the name suggests, filter out the dirt and debris from the air while cooling the AC. This dirt and debris gets accumulated for a period of time and creates a thick layer that blocks the air from going through the filters which leads to ineffective cooling.
You can easily clean the air filters by running them under the water. You can even use a gentle brush and soap to clean the filters and dry them completely before inserting them back into the AC.
2. Dirty Coils:
The evaporator coils are present just below the air filters. These are copper coils that can also get clogged after prolonged use. Once they are clogged they will diminish the cooling capability of your AC.
Once you remove the air filters you can easily see these coils. If these coils are coated with black or brown substance and you cannot see the copper colour of these coils then you need to clean the coils. You can do so by using no-rinse coil cleaners available in the market. You can also gently clean it using the blow mode in a vacuum cleaner.
3. Insufficient Refrigerant:
Refrigerant or coolant is a very important part of the AC. If you are noticing a significant lack of cooling to the point where your AC might be releasing warmer air instead of cool air then chances are that there is a refrigerant leakage in the unit.
If you suspect a refrigerant leakage in the unit, then immediately shut down the AC and call an HVAC professional immediately. This is because refrigerants are highly toxic and are largely responsible for the depletion of the Ozone layer. The problem if left untreated can cause major damage to the AC as well as your health.
4. Irregular Maintenance:
An air conditioner is a device that is used on a regular basis. This regular use can cause wear and tear as well as damages to various parts of the AC. Therefore it is necessary to regularly maintain and service the unit. This has to be done by a professional because they will check all the parts of the AC and will recognise if there is any damage that needs to be addressed.
The above three factors i.e. dirty coils, insufficient refrigerant and dirty filters can be easily resolved by a professional along with any additional defects that your AC might have.
5. Faulty Compressor:
To rectify this problem, try to ensure proper insulation. You can also call a professional and add insulating materials to your windows that will prevent the cool air from escaping the room. You can also use energy-efficient and less heat emitting LED lights instead of bulbs to reduce the heat in the room.
6. Defective Parts:
An AC is only a culmination of its different parts, all the parts need to work together in order to provide proper cooling. Any small defect in any of the parts will create insufficient cooling. All the parts such as the evaporator, condenser, refrigerant, filters etc have to work in perfect condition to ensure proper cooling.
Regular servicing and maintenance by professionals will help you in this regard.
7. Faulty Thermostat:
The thermostat is also called the brain of the AC is the sensor that detects the desired temperature you want your room to be and instructs the AC to cool it down to that temperature. A faulty thermostat will directly result in insufficient cooling as the AC will not be able to detect your desired temperature.
To recognise a faulty thermostat you need to lower or raise the temperature of the AC and wait for 10 to 20 minutes, if the AC doesn’t regulate according to your desired temperature, then chances are that you have a faulty thermostat. A faulty thermostat can only be repaired by a professional.
8. High Atmospheric Temperature:
If the temperature outside in the room is very high then also the AC will give insufficient cooling. This is because the hotter climate outside forces the AC to work at its highest capacity to cool down the room. And the high outside temperature will seep in through the windows and doors which makes it difficult to cool down the room.
9. Faulty Motors:
The motor of an AC is one of the most important components of an AC. It ensures the smooth functioning of the fans and other parts of the AC which is vital to provide optimum cooling. A faulty motor might be causing your AC to not cool properly.
If you notice any abnormal behaviour of the fan in the outdoor unit, such as the fan moving when the AC is off or the fan not moving when the AC is on then chances are that the motor is defective. A defective motor can either be repaired or needs to be replaced by a professional.
10. Undersized AC:
If the capacity of the AC is below the one required for the room, then it will provide insufficient cooling. If the capacity of the AC is less then it cannot cool the room even when working at full capacity. Therefore, it is very important to buy a perfectly sized AC.
There is not much you can do about this. You can try insulating the room as best as you can and the cooling might get better but chances are you will have to buy an AC that is compatible with the size of the room to get the most efficient cooling.
11. Faulty AC Remote:
A simple reason as to why your AC is not cooling according to your temperature setting might be because it is not responding to the remote anymore. You can either change the batteries or replace the remote if the damage is severe. You can also get your remote checked to see if it is working properly.
12. Tripped Circuit Breaker:
A circuit breaker is installed in your house electrical system to prevent electrical accidents and damages. A circuit breaker will trip when there is very high power consumption by a device. If your circuit breaker has tripped then also your AC will not start. And if you have a faulty circuit breaker then also your AC will shut down frequently causing inconsistent and inefficient cooling.
There can be many reasons why your AC is not giving optimum cooling. The above are some of the major issues that might be occurring in your AC. The solution to all of this can be summarised in a single step. Get your unit checked regularly by a professional and service it regularly to avoid any problems.
