This is one of the most common complaints we hear from Jersey Shore homeowners in June, July, and August. The system is clearly running. You can hear the outdoor unit. You can feel air coming from the vents. But your home won’t get down to temperature, or it takes so long that you give up and open a window.
A running air conditioner that isn’t cooling adequately is a system with a problem. Here are the most likely explanations.
The Refrigerant Charge Is Low
Refrigerant is what allows your system to actually transfer heat out of your home. When the system is low on refrigerant, cooling capacity drops considerably. The system runs and runs, the compressor works hard, but the heat exchange just isn’t happening the way it should. Low refrigerant almost always means there’s a leak somewhere in the system. It needs to be found and fixed, not just refilled. We go into detail on this in our post on AC refrigerant leaks.
The Evaporator Coil Is Dirty
The indoor coil is responsible for absorbing heat from the air inside your home. When it gets coated with dust and debris, it can’t do that job effectively. Over time, even a relatively thin layer of buildup has a real impact on efficiency. This is another reason why annual maintenance matters. A coil cleaning during a professional tune-up is not a formality; it’s one of the most impactful things that gets done during the visit.
There’s a Problem with the Ductwork
If your home has central air, the cooled air travels through ductwork before it reaches the rooms you’re trying to cool. Ductwork that leaks, that’s been disconnected somewhere in the attic or crawl space, or that was undersized to begin with can waste a significant portion of your system’s output before it ever gets to where you need it. We covered the most common ductwork issues in a previous post on ductwork problems in NJ homes.
The System Is Undersized
On a 95-degree day with high humidity, an undersized system will simply not be able to keep up. It’s not broken; it’s overwhelmed. If this only happens on the hottest days and your home cools fine otherwise, the system may be running at its limit. If it’s a new system that was recently installed, it may have been sized incorrectly from the start.
The Condenser Is Overheating
The outdoor unit needs airflow around it to do its job. If it’s been hemmed in by overgrown shrubs, if the fins are clogged with debris, or if it’s in a location where it’s getting direct afternoon sun with no air movement, it can overheat and reduce its output significantly. Check the area around your condenser and make sure nothing is blocking the airflow.
When to Call
If your home is consistently not reaching temperature, it’s time to have a technician come out and take a look. Call Rostron Premium Home Services at 732-374-9949. We serve Monmouth and Ocean County, New Jersey.
