This is the reason why the air conditioner falls short of cooling during the peak hot weather.

Many households are grappling with the situation where the air conditioner is not cool enough even though it has been running for a few hours, stopping abruptly, making users feel even hotter than when using an electric fan. There are many reasons leading to this situation.

1. This is the reason why the air conditioner falls short of cooling during the peak hot weather.

Many households are dealing with the situation of air conditioning not being cool enough even though it has been running for a few hours, stopping abruptly, making users feel even hotter than when using an electric fan. There are many reasons leading to this situation.

Hot and intense sunny weather raises the outdoor temperature to over 40 - 42 degrees Celsius.

In this situation, many people's solution is not to go outside during peak sunlight hours and stay indoors using air conditioning to 'avoid the heat.' However, many complain that even when the air conditioner is turned on and set to a low temperature, they still don't feel cool enough. In fact, the air conditioner runs 'sluggishly' or stops constantly. These are the reasons why the air conditioner is not cool enough during the peak heat.

Incorrect installation location can also make the air conditioner less cool. Illustrative photo: Internet

This is a common scenario for many families when installing the air conditioner on the hottest wall in the room. The reason is that nowadays, many families in apartments or small houses have limited options in choosing a suitable corner to install both the outdoor and indoor units to ensure the air conditioning system operates optimally.

Additionally, some believe that installing the air conditioner in a hot corner will quickly reduce the heat. However, this is a completely mistaken belief and can lead to the air conditioner being overloaded as it has to cool the excessively heated wall before reaching the air in the room. Especially on days when the outdoor temperature rises to over 40 degrees Celsius, placing the air conditioner in a hot corner, exposed to direct sunlight, will make the air conditioner run continuously without adequately cooling the room's needs.

Ideally, you should install the air conditioner in cooler corners so that the room temperature decreases quickly, then gradually cools the surrounding walls. However, it's essential not to extend the ductwork between the outdoor and indoor units too long as it will affect the system's optimal operation.

Undersized Air Conditioning Capacity
The capacity of the air conditioner also affects many factors: building materials, heat sources affecting the room, the number of occupants, frequency of use, etc. Therefore, not every room has the same standard. Insufficient cooling often occurs in families with large populations, spacious and open spaces, or in offices where many people, machines, and heating devices or frequent comings and goings occur.

To avoid this situation, before purchasing an air conditioner, buyers can add or subtract about 5 - 10m3/capacity. In cases where the room is exposed to direct sunlight, connected to other rooms, with ventilation fans... add an additional 0.3 – 0.5 Hp depending on the level of heat loss.

With the formula above, you can calculate the necessary air conditioning capacity for your room based on height, area, volume, and house orientation. When buying an air conditioner, consider and calculate all factors that may affect the machine's operation to choose the most suitable capacity.

Air Conditioner is 'Overloaded'
The situation of the air conditioner operating overloaded is common in extremely hot weather. This often occurs in offices with a large number of users, many heat-generating machines. Due to insufficient cooling, users tend to set the temperature too low, leading to the air conditioner being overloaded and running sluggishly.

If left unchecked, when overloaded, the air conditioner can break the capacitor or, worse, the block, resulting in significant repair costs. Capacitors are usually designed to withstand temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius, while the outdoor temperature is 40 degrees Celsius, inside the air conditioner can reach 50-60 degrees Celsius, causing explosions/damage to the capacitor.

Setting the Air Conditioner Temperature Too Low

Setting the temperature too low can cause the air conditioner to overload and not achieve the desired cooling. Illustrative photo: Internet

During hot sunny days, many families tend to set the air conditioner at the lowest temperature to cool the room. However, keeping the temperature low continuously may lead to the air conditioner being overloaded or significantly reduce its lifespan.

Additionally, setting the temperature too low is not good for health due to the high temperature difference between the inside and outside, which can lead to heat shock. Experts advise, no matter how hot the weather is, set the air conditioner temperature to around 25 degrees Celsius or just 5 – 7 degrees Celsius lower than the outdoor temperature.

A small tip to help you feel cooler is to use an electric fan. The fan's breeze, combined with the cool air from the air conditioner, will make users feel much cooler than using the air conditioner alone.

Loss of Cooling due to Gas Leakage
In air conditioners that have been in use for several years and have long ducts, many tiny leaks may not show symptoms until after a year. So, if you still feel less cold after thorough cleaning and maintenance, you should check the gas. Or if you've just added gas to increase the cooling agent but the air conditioner is not cold enough, quickly find and fix the leakage issue before refilling the gas. Refilling gas without checking will result in the gas running out again after a while, and the cooling loss will be the same as before.

In newly installed air conditioners, if not cold enough, it could be due to open welds in the gas conduit system, causing the air conditioner to run out of gas overnight (especially for Inverter air conditioners). At this point, users should call the warranty technician to check the welds.

Air Conditioner Running Continuously 24/7
On days when the outdoor temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius and the sun is scorching, many families use the air conditioner continuously to avoid heat. However, regardless, allow the air conditioner some rest time.

During cooler weather (early morning or night), turn off the air conditioner and open the door to let in outdoor air. Similarly, if it's not too hot, you can turn off the air conditioner when sleeping at night. Your body can tolerate a higher temperature while sleeping.

Issues with the Air Conditioner's Air Filter

Clean the evaporator coil, especially the air filter, for the air conditioner to operate at its best. Photo: Internet

Maintaining the optimal temperature stability of the air conditioner depends a lot on the ventilation, cleanliness of both the outdoor and indoor units. Therefore, to ensure the air conditioner can provide enough cool air, it's essential to regularly ventilate the outdoor and indoor units to prevent dust buildup.

For new air conditioner models, this issue is unlikely to occur. However, older air conditioner models (used for about 2 years) without careful cleaning and maintenance can be very dirty. Accumulated debris, dirt, and spider webs will create a sticky layer. If this situation occurs in the air filter of the indoor unit, the air conditioner will not be able to blow cold air into the room. In the outdoor unit, it can lead to clogging, hindering heat dissipation when the air conditioner is running.

Among these, the air filter is a crucial component of every air conditioner that removes dust and debris from the air before blowing it into your home. Most air filters need to be cleaned or replaced monthly, although some high-efficiency filters may last longer. A dirty air filter can reduce the machine's efficiency and lead to issues such as freezing.

If your air conditioner has a reusable filter, clean the filter under cold water and let it dry completely before reinstalling. If cautious, replace the air filter according to the manufacturer's requirements to ensure the machine's operation.

Installing the Air Conditioner Coil Opposite to the Wind Direction
In windy areas, do not install the coil opposite to the wind direction, as the wind scatters the air conditioner's vapor and makes it work harder to provide enough coolness. Ideally, install the air conditioner at a right angle to the wind direction.