28 Jul, 2020
It’s not just your imagination – it’s hot out there! July and August are the “Dog Days of Summer” for a reason, and Chattanooga area residents certainly understand that better than most. This area is susceptible to high temperatures, high humidity, and high dew points. These combine to make it seem even hotter than it really is. Some of the best ways to beat the heat are to go for a swim, enjoy an ice cold beverage, or just stay inside. But, what happens if your plan to stay inside and beat the heat doesn’t work because your air conditioning unit isn’t cooling as it should? If you don’t have access to a pool and you’re all out of drinks, you could be headed for a hot few days or weeks. There are several reasons that your air conditioner might not be cooling the way it should. One of the most obvious reasons is age. If your unit is more than 10-15 years old, it’s likely not going to cool like it once did. The hotter it is outside, the harder it has to work. If it’s old and worn out, it may not be capable of meeting demand. Another common cause of poor cooling could be low refrigerant. If you haven’t had your unit serviced or maintained in the last few years, you may have used all of the refrigerant that was in the unit. However, it is also possible that you may have a leak somewhere in the system, and the refrigerant is escaping. Power issues may also explain your unit’s poor performance. A faulty dual capacitor or issues with wiring could lead to reduced power and, subsequently, a reduction in cold air. There could be other power problems as well. It’s also important to remember that you need to change your filters. Dirty or clogged filters can hurt performance. If you can’t remember the last time you swapped out filters, go ahead and take that step now. It may not solve the issue, but it certainly won’t make things worse. If your air conditioner is not working as well as it should, call American Air HVAC. Our technicians will come to your home, perform a complete assessment of the unit, and determine the source(s) of your problems. They will then provide the best solutions for your specific needs. Don’t settle for uncomfortable. Call American Air HVAC today and let us get you cooled back down.