central air cooling question when its 100 degrees outside?

Question

We have a 2500 sq foot home, and this week the temperatures outside have been 98-100 degrees. Our thermostat inside is reading around 80 degrees, and I cant seem to get it any lower inside. Is this normal or should I have it checked out? Not sure how many btu's my system is but it looks like its working :)

Answer 1

To verify if the unit is functioning properly, replace the filter, check the indoor coil if you can, and clean it if it looks dirty. Water or a stiff-nylon brush will clean the coil. Wash the outdoor coils with a gentle spray from your garden hose. good 10-15 minute shower until the water is clear will do.

Turn the unit on, and let it run for five minutes. With the unit running, take a good thermometer and measure the air temperature going into the return grille. I use a $10 cooking digital thermometer I picked up @ Target. Any thermometer that has 2* increments will work, but a digital is much easier, and you get a reading quickly. Now go to a supply register and measure the temperature of the air coming out of the unit. If you have a 18-20* drop, the system is working at maximum capacity. Less than 16*, there is a problem that a technician will have to address. More than 22, you have airflow issues.
Some times a unit is doing the most it can, it is just keeping up with the heat gain. It may be undersized, but was good before Algore told us that the earth is warming up.
Keep Kool

Answer 2

Generally, a cooling system will lower the temperature by about 20 degrees SO 100 out of doors 80 in doors, that normal and is considered the normal system operation.

Answer 3

You may just need your ac coolant refilled. But you could just have poor insulation & a steep temperature gradient between the ac thermostat & the exterior wall.

BTW - I could have the ac much cooler. But it's 110F here in phoenix right now & I have the ac set at 86F during the high price zone & then cooling down to 82F when the electric gets cheaper - but I am an experienced profesional desert dweller & I have had practise doing this :-)

Answer 4

I'm having someone come check out mine as we speak. They say you're suppose to get your unit serviced every spring, and I didn't think I needed to since it ran normal. This is my second summer in the house. It's never below 80 degrees during the day and I'm tired of walking around the house half naked just to cool off. Hopefully I'll just need a refill of refrigerant. Want me to keep you posted?

Answer 5

Hello, just go out to the unit and listen that it is coming on for one. a 2500 square foot home should have a 2 ton unit I think. Can you get the temperature down below 80 in the evening? If not, your thermosta may need repaired/replaced.

Answer 6

Make sure your furnace filter is clean. This is easy and should be done monthly anyway. As long as the filter is clean, the air conditioning will work more efficiently unless you have a mechanical problem.

Answer 7

Have it checked out for sure, but my guess is that either your A/C unit is not powerful enough for such a large house or you need to have better insulation.

Answer 8

You should have the charge on it checked.