After working outside during a heat wave in southeastern Virginia, you look forward to walking into a cool home. However, when your air conditioner can’t keep up on hot days, you may need to schedule repairs from professionals offering AC services in Hampton, VA – like Hats Off Heating and Air Conditioning.
Here, you can learn some of the reasons the air conditioner is not keeping your home cool and how regular HVAC system maintenance can help.
1. Your Air Conditioner Needs General Maintenance in Hampton, Virginia
Inadequate cooling capacity and other common air conditioner problems frequently relate to a lack of maintenance on the system. Having a thorough tune-up of your air conditioning system once a year is the best way to keep it running smoothly.
Set up an AC maintenance appointment just before the warmest temperatures begin in Hampton, VA, which is usually mid-to-late May. When you call for maintenance of your air conditioner, technicians will take several steps, including:
- Replacing clogged air filters
- Cleaning dirty coils
- Measuring system performance
- Testing electrical connections
- Cleaning the exterior unit
Although homeowners can perform a few of these tasks themselves, having a professional inspect the system every 12 months is also important. AC technicians can spot parts that are beginning to wear out and replace them, heading off failure when the system is under maximum stress in a summer heatwave.
2. Your AC Isn’t Keeping Up on Hot Days Because of Thermostat Errors
Problems with your thermostat settings can explain why an air conditioner can’t keep up on hot days. If you set the thermostat for a comfortable temperature but the component is not measuring accurately, your home may feel too warm. Cooling system technicians can test the performance of the thermostat, calibrate it, and repair or replace its parts as needed.
Does your home feel too warm? Before calling for help, always check the thermostat’s settings. Perhaps someone increased the temperature setting for the air conditioner without your knowledge.
3. Your System Has a Refrigerant Leak
Hampton, Virginia, has a humid subtropical climate, meaning high humidity levels are common in summer when temperatures are highest. When the cooling system is low on refrigerant, it will struggle to achieve cool temperatures on these hot, humid days. For example, as the system ages, holes in coils or loosened connections could lead to a refrigerant leak.
When you need solutions, a cooling system technician can measure the level of refrigerant in the system and add more if needed. Note that local building codes in Hampton, Virginia, require a licensed HVAC technician to add more refrigerant. Homeowners cannot take this step themselves without violating regulations at the local, state, and federal levels – and refrigerant can be dangerous.
4. Your Air Conditioner Isn’t Large Enough
When your air conditioner can’t keep up on hot days, and the unit has struggled ever since you moved in, your system might not have enough cooling capacity. The size of your AC unit determines how much square footage it can cool adequately. Asking a small air conditioner to cool too much square footage places the system under stress and makes it difficult to cool the entire home on hot days.
You might even notice problems with rooms upstairs only. Are they too warm because the AC unit is too small? An AC technician can make some recommendations for adding cooling capacity to solve this problem.
5. Your Home Has Poor Insulation Levels
Insulation levels play a key role in the ability of your air conditioner to keep your home cool during a heatwave in Hampton, VA. Insulation in the walls and attic creates a barrier that prevents the outdoor heat from seeping in.
Consider adding new windows with an energy-efficient design to improve your air conditioning system’s performance. Add caulk and weather stripping around doors and windows to prevent air from leaking outdoors.
An HVAC professional can inspect your home and make recommendations for these energy-efficient improvements.
When Your Air Conditioner Can’t Keep Up With Hot Days in Hampton, VA, Let Our Expert Technicians Help
Instead of just putting up with it when a balky air conditioner can’t keep up on hot days, let Hats Off Heating and Air Conditioning investigate. Our professional cooling technicians will do visual inspections and run diagnostic tests, fix it, and restore the air conditioner. Whether it involves cleaning AC coils, changing dirty air filters, or increasing refrigerant levels, we’re your team in the entire Hampton, VA, region, including areas near Mill Creek, the Hampton History Museum, and Bluebird Gap Farm.
Contact us today for a service appointment!
