When you turn on your air conditioner, depending on the type of AC system you have, you would expect one or all rooms to receive sufficient cooling. However, some system issues or faulty settings can cause uneven cooling in your house. How do you resolve it, especially during the hottest days of the year?
Cooper’s Plumbing & Air is your contractor for top-quality AC repair in Bainbridge, GA, and nearby areas. Here, we explore various causes of uneven cooling and how you can fix them as soon as possible.
How to Fix Household Cooling Woes
Of course, you can expect citizens in warmer states, like Georgia, to have more cooling complaints than others. Many of those who deal with uneven cooling have multi-story homes. Even just two stories can cause cooling differences.
What aspects do multi-story homes have that single-story homes often don’t? How do you address cooling issues in a single-story home as well?
Below, our experts listed six common reasons a Georgia household may experience uneven cooling in their home. We also explore what you can do to fix the issue before your property gets too hot for too long:
#1. Blocked Vents
If you have a central AC system, you should have vents in different parts of each room. While many households have them near or on the ceiling, others are on the floor, usually near a wall or corner.
Sometimes, especially if you have floor vents, you may put furniture and other items too close to them. Doing so blocks the air coming from the vent, leading to uneven cooling in your house. You may have also closed the vents at some point, or dust and grime might clog the vent opening.
Solution
Check around your home for air vents that might be under furniture or blocked by drapes and other furniture items. If nothing seems to be blocking your vent system, ensure you have the vents open and dust them to resolve or prevent grime buildup.
#2. Dirty Air Filters
Air filters help keep unwanted pollutants out of your indoor air. They also prevent dust and other airborne waste from clogging your air ducts and causing uneven cooling. You should generally replace your air filters once every 90 days, but many homeowners tend to forget.
Solution
If you know what type and size air filter you need and know where to replace it, you can purchase the filter and replace it yourself. Otherwise, you can rely on an HVAC technician who knows more about air conditioning at home and business locations.
#3. Air Duct Leaks
Ductless mini-split systems do not require air ducts, but many households have central AC systems instead. A central AC needs air ducts so the cool air it produces can spread throughout the property.
However, leaks in the duct system can prevent cool air from reaching your desired destination. Instead, the air will squeeze out between the walls or in the attic, never getting to the room, leading to uneven cooling. Some of the ductwork may be in good condition, but any room connected to faulty ducts may be warmer than usual.
Solution
You will need a professional HVAC technician to help identify the leaky ducts so they can repair them with as little property damage as possible. After all, the air ducts travel through your walls, and repairs to them may require breaking into the wall to access the ductwork.
#4. Low Attic Insulation
Think of insulation as a barrier to prevent or reduce temperature exchange. It serves to keep rooms at desired temperatures and prevent outdoor conditions from influencing the coolness or heat of your home.
Attics sometimes don’t have the same insulation levels as the rest of the property. Even if you lack an attic, rooms with walls that have less or damaged insulation will change temperatures more frequently and may change depending on outdoor circumstances.
Solution
Although you could attempt to resolve the insulation issue yourself, many homeowners don’t have the experience necessary for a complete job. Instead, you can rely on a high-quality contractor to measure the insulation you need so you have enough at a reasonable price.
#5. Central AC Short-Cycling
Short-cycling refers to ACs and other temperature control appliances that turn on and off excessively. This issue tends to increase electricity consumption and bills without providing the desired temperature changes, often leading to uneven cooling in your house. Short cycling has several causes, such as:
- AC units being too small or large
- Electricity issues
- Dirty heat sensors
- Faulty thermostats
Solution
Because the causes can vary so much, you may not be able to efficiently diagnose why your AC is short-cycling. You can safely check for a faulty thermostat or incorrect thermostat settings on your own. However, electric and other technical issues may require professional assistance.
#6. Aging Air Conditioning System
No machine or appliance works forever. Eventually, your AC system, whether central or ductless, will need replacing. While repairs can keep a unit going for several years, the connective parts within the system wear down, eventually failing to work.
You can generally expect an AC to work for 15 to 25 years or more with consistent maintenance.
Solution
The only solution to an aging air conditioner is to replace it with a newer one. Newer ACs tend to be more efficient because of updated technology. Moreover, you can try different AC configurations.
For example, instead of a central system, you can try different HVAC zoning systems for more specific control over individual spaces within your home.
Call Cooper’s for Expert HVAC Care
Sometimes, uneven cooling in your house could be due to air conditioner temperature settings. If you aren’t sure or know that isn’t the case, you can contact Cooper’s Plumbing & Air. We provide top-quality HVAC services in and around Bainbridge, GA, from repairs and installations to air filter maintenance.
Call Cooper’s Plumbing & Air at (866)-464-7132 or visit our contact page to get your free service quote today.