{"id":1600,"date":"2022-08-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/?p=1600"},"modified":"2022-07-25T16:19:21","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T20:19:21","slug":"help-my-ac-cant-keep-up-with-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/help-my-ac-cant-keep-up-with-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"Help, My AC Can\u2019t Keep Up With the Heat!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We\u2019re in the middle of a severe heat wave in the Northeast of the US, with record-breaking temperatures and heat advisory warnings. This is a time when you\u2019ll be glad to have a working central air conditioning system in your home. It can literally be a lifesaver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet the extreme heat can also expose an air conditioner that can\u2019t keep pace with demands. Is it just because the heatwave is more than the air conditioner was designed to take? That\u2019s unlikely. If your AC was accurately sized for your house when it was installed (and we\u2019ll talk more about that below), it should still manage a comfortable temperature indoors even with 100\u00b0F heat outside. It will need to run for longer to maintain comfort, but it should be capable of delivering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

If you have an AC that\u2019s struggling to manage the heat, you may need to have air conditioning repair in Ocean City, MD<\/a>. Perhaps even a full replacement. We know this isn\u2019t what you want to hear, but it\u2019s best to find out as soon as possible if you need AC help\u2014before you don\u2019t have any cooling at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Is This Happening?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, is this a new air conditioning system going through its first summer cooling your house? If it is, then it\u2019s likely the AC received a poor installation and isn\u2019t the right size for your home. An air conditioner that\u2019s undersized won\u2019t have the capacity to cool the entire house. You might not have noticed this until the heat started to skyrocket. The only way to correct an undersized AC is to replace it. Always work with licensed professionals to install an AC, since they\u2019ll take the time to size the system to meet your home\u2019s cooling requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this is an old air conditioner, this inferior cooling may be a sign the system is starting to die. This is a possibility if the AC is more than 12 years old, and especially if it\u2019s more than 15. Even the best maintenance done annually can\u2019t stop an air conditioner from wearing down at this point and losing its cooling capacity. Talk to our technicians to see if it\u2019s best to schedule a air conditioning replacement ASAP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the simpler side, your AC may have a dirty air filter in place that needs to be swapped for a clean one. This filter will become congested after one to three months. If it isn\u2019t changed, it will start to limit the AC\u2019s cooling ability. Put in a new filter to see if this improves the cooling system\u2019s performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several different repair issues that can cause an air conditioner to have trouble with its regular cooling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n