It can be frustrating when your central air is proving to be inefficient, especially on days of extreme weather conditions. When these problems start, your system may fail to produce enough cool air during summer, which makes your home quite uncomfortable.
In this article, we address some of the most common reasons why your central air may not keep up with the thermostat and what to do to fix them. You may need to contact a 24 hour AC repair company like ours that specializes in 24 hour AC repair in the Woodlands. Please visit the website for more information.
Why does my thermostat not reach the set temperature?
- Incorrect thermostat size: This is the most common reason why this may happen. There are other possible causes, but if the temperature of the thermostat is too small for your home, or was designed to cover a limited space, then the AC may not reach the set temperature.
- The thermostat is broken: It is possible for the thermostat of your central AC to be broken and the screen still displays the set temperature. With this, the AC may not reach the temperature.
- The fan is not working properly: If the thermostat’s fan is dysfunctional, the AC may not work properly. In finding out whether your thermostat is functioning well, it is important to check if the fan is blowing warm air.
- The thermostat has frozen: Today, the thermostat of a typical central AC unit is smart. And the thermostat’s touch screen may present some problems if the static electricity around the thermostat has a problem. So, what happens is that when the display of the thermostat freezes, it may stop sending the needed updates to the screen. The implication is that you would not be able to notice if the AC doesn’t reach the set temperature.
- Power loss: When the thermostat of your AC experiences a power loss, it is prevented from reaching the set temperature. An obvious sign the thermostat would give you if it has lost its power is a blank or dark screen. It may also fail to display the status on the screen. The furnace or condenser may also fail to function.
What can you do about it?
The following are some of the troubleshooting tips that you can follow when your central air is not keeping up with the thermostat:
- Inspect your thermostat settings: Your first suspect should be your thermostat. So, you may want to confirm that it hasn’t been set incorrectly. The setting may also have been altered unintentionally by someone. Ensure that it is set at a temperature lower than that of the outdoors with the fan set to “auto”.
- Inspect the breaker for trips: While this occurrence is not common, one should not ignore the possibility. After you have confirmed that your thermostat is correctly set, check the appropriate breaker for your AC unit and simply reset it if it has tripped. A recurrence of breaker trips soon after may be an indication that you need to call an electrical or AC repair service.
- Replace the air filter: A restricted airflow in your AC system reduces the amount of cool air that circulates in your home. In some severe cases, your system may even overheat, which causes ice formation, short cycling, etc. So, if your filter has accumulated dirt and grime, have it cleaned or replaced.
When to call a professional
There’s a limit to the tools and skills you have to solve the problem with your central AC unit and you will eventually require the service of a professional AC repair. The following will require a professional to fix:
- A faulty thermostat: The expected lifespan of most modern thermostats is about 10 years before replacement may be necessary. So, if your thermostat has been in use longer than this, then it may be the culprit of your AC issues.
- Insufficient refrigerant: An AC system that is running on inadequate refrigerant may keep on working for some time. However, it will only release little or no cool, which may eventually cause overheating, overheating, and the system may freeze over.
- Damaged fan: Your AC system may fail to move much air if the fan has been damaged and the system’s output will be poor.
- A faulty capacitor: A failing capacitor can cause poor heat movement in the system because the compressor cannot function when the capacitor fails.
Final word
It is important that you address any problems with your central AC system as soon as they are discovered. Engaging the service of a professional AC repair technician is always the best way to go. A professional has the skill and the right tools to fix whatever problem your AC system might have.
In your search for a reputable 24 hour AC repair company to fix your system, you want to do due diligence before hiring any professional. A good online source to read about an AC technician is the Better Business Bureau.
