You have your air conditioner running, the thermostat is set to a cool 72 degrees, but your home still feels uncomfortably warm. It’s a frustrating situation many Los Angeles homeowners face, especially during the peak of summer. Our AC diagnostic service can identify the root causes of this issue quickly and effectively. If you’ve noticed your AC seems less effective on certain days even though it’s running constantly, you’re not alone. This drop in performance isn’t just in your head; it’s often a sign that your system is struggling against external factors or internal issues.
Understanding why your AC’s effectiveness can vary is the first step toward a solution. The problem can stem from our unique Southern California climate, like intense heat waves and fluctuating humidity, or from common system-related issues such as dirty filters and leaky ducts. With our AC diagnostic service, homeowners gain clear answers and targeted solutions. This guide will explore the primary reasons your AC might be underperforming and explain how our expert team at A/C Hollywood diagnoses and resolves these problems to restore cool, comfortable air to your home.
What Impact Does Los Angeles Weather have on Your AC
Your air conditioning system handles a specific cooling load, and experts calculate it based on your home’s size, insulation, and typical local climate conditions. However, when Los Angeles experiences extreme weather, even a perfectly functioning AC unit reaches its limits.
Intense Heat Waves Overwhelm Your System
Los Angeles is no stranger to heat waves, with temperatures often soaring into the triple digits. During these periods, the difference between the outdoor air temperature and your desired indoor temperature becomes immense. This is known as the “temperature differential.” Using an AC diagnostic service during these conditions ensures your unit is operating at maximum capacity. A larger differential forces your AC to work significantly harder and run longer cycles to remove heat from your home.
Think of it like trying to bail water out of a boat with a small bucket while a huge wave keeps pouring more in. Your AC is the bucket, and on a 105°F day, the heat pouring into your home through windows, walls, and the roof is a tidal wave. Your system may run continuously but struggle to reach the setpoint on your thermostat. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s broken; it’s simply overwhelmed by a heat load that exceeds its design capacity. An undersized unit will be particularly ineffective, but even a correctly sized system will feel less powerful during these extreme weather events.
The Hidden Challenge of Humidity
While Los Angeles is known for its dry heat, we also experience days with higher-than-average humidity, especially during the late summer monsoon season or in coastal areas. Humidity has a profound effect on how we perceive temperature and how hard your AC must work.
Your air conditioner has two main jobs: lowering the air temperature (sensible heat) and removing moisture from the air (latent heat). When humidity is high, your system must expend a significant portion of its energy on dehumidification before it can effectively cool the air. This process involves cooling the indoor evaporator coil to a point below the dew point, causing water vapor to condense on it and drain away. On a sticky, humid day, your AC might dedicate as much as 30-40% of its cooling power just to removing moisture, leaving less capacity for lowering the actual temperature. This is why your home can still feel warm and clammy even when the AC is running.
What Are Common Internal Issues That Reduce AC Performance
Beyond external weather conditions, several internal problems can severely restrict your AC’s ability to cool your home. These issues often develop gradually and can be easy to overlook until they cause a noticeable decline in comfort. Our AC diagnostic service pinpoints these hidden issues before they escalate, saving you money and discomfort.
The #1 Culprit: A Dirty Air Filter
The single most common—and preventable—cause of reduced AC efficiency is a dirty air filter. Your system’s air filter is designed to trap dust, pet dander, pollen, and other airborne debris before it can enter and damage the sensitive internal components of your HVAC system.
When the filter becomes clogged, it chokes the flow of air into the system. This restricted airflow has several negative consequences:
- Reduced Cooling Power: Your AC needs a steady, sufficient flow of warm indoor air to pass over the evaporator coil to cool it. When airflow is weak, the system can’t circulate enough air to cool your home effectively.
- Increased Strain on Components: The blower fan has to work much harder to pull air through a clogged filter, leading to increased energy consumption and premature wear and tear on the motor.
- Frozen Evaporator Coil: Insufficient warm air passing over the evaporator coil can cause its temperature to drop below freezing. Moisture in the air will then freeze onto the coil, forming a block of ice. This ice buildup completely obstructs airflow and stops the cooling process altogether, even though the outdoor unit may still be running.
Checking and changing your air filter every 1-3 months is a simple maintenance task that can prevent these significant problems and keep your system running efficiently.
The Invisible Thief: Duct Leakage
Your ductwork is the circulatory system for your home’s comfort, delivering conditioned air from the AC unit to every room. Over time, joints and seams in the duct system separate, or objects puncture or crush the ducts themselves, especially if someone places them in an attic, crawlspace, or behind walls.
When your ducts leak, a substantial amount of the cold air you’re paying for escapes into unconditioned spaces instead of reaching your living areas. According to industry studies, the typical home can lose 20-30% of its conditioned air through duct leaks. This loss forces your AC to run longer to compensate, driving up energy bills while leaving rooms feeling stuffy and unevenly cooled. You might notice that some rooms are much warmer than others or that airflow from certain vents is weak—both are classic signs of duct leakage.
How A/C Hollywood Diagnoses and Solves Your Cooling Problems
If your AC isn’t keeping up, our certified technicians have the expertise and tools to pinpoint the exact cause. At A/C Hollywood, we don’t guess—we diagnose. Our comprehensive evaluation process ensures we find the root of the problem and provide a lasting solution. This is why our AC diagnostic service has become the go-to choice for Los Angeles residents needing reliable HVAC care.
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Comprehensive System Performance Evaluation
Our first step is to conduct a thorough inspection of your entire HVAC system. We measure refrigerant levels, check electrical connections, inspect capacitors and contactors, and clean the indoor and outdoor coils. We also perform a temperature differential test, measuring the air temperature going into and coming out of your system. This tells us how effectively your AC is removing heat and whether it’s performing to the manufacturer’s specifications.
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Detailed Airflow and Filter Analysis
We’ll inspect your air filter and the blower compartment for any signs of restricted airflow. If we find a frozen evaporator coil, we will safely thaw it and then identify the underlying cause, which is almost always related to poor airflow or low refrigerant. We ensure that your system can “breathe” properly, which is essential for efficient operation.
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Professional Duct Leakage Testing
To determine if leaky ducts are robbing you of cool air, we can perform a professional duct blaster test. This process involves pressurizing the duct system with a calibrated fan and measuring the rate of air loss. This gives us a precise reading of how much leakage exists. If we identify significant leaks, we offer expert duct sealing services. We use high-quality mastic sealant and specialized tape to seal all accessible joints, seams, and holes, ensuring that conditioned air is delivered exactly where it’s needed.
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Home and System Sizing Assessment
In some cases, the problem is that the AC unit itself is improperly sized for the home. An undersized unit will always struggle on hot days, while an oversized unit will cool the space too quickly without properly dehumidifying it, leading to a cold but clammy feeling. Our technicians can perform a load calculation to determine the correct size for your home based on its square footage, window placement, insulation levels, and the Los Angeles climate.
Don’t let an underperforming AC ruin your comfort. If your system is running but not cooling, contact the experts at A/C Hollywood. We are dedicated to providing residents of Los Angeles with reliable, effective, and honest HVAC solutions. Schedule your diagnostic service today and let us restore your home to the cool oasis it should be.