My Air Conditioner is Set at 74 But Will Not Cool Below 80 During the Day

Examine the Air Conditioner's Surroundings

• Make sure there are no curtains, blinds or other furniture blocking the air conditioner vents. Air should be able to flow out of the appliance and into the room without obstruction. Make sure the intake pipe is placed out the window if you have a portable air conditioner.

Clean the Air Filter

• Remove the air filter from your air conditioner as outlined in the instruction manual. The filter is usually located behind the front grille or in a slot on top of or below the air conditioner. Vacuum out dust, rinse the filter in the sink to remove any remaining dirt and let the filter dry before returning it to the air conditioner and switching on the power. Dirty air filters greatly reduce the appliance's capacity for cooling.

Check for Heat Sources

• Look around the room for sources of heat that could be working against the cooling action of the air conditioner. Running clothes dryers, ovens and radiators all raise air temperature and reduce the efficacy of air conditioning. Switch off all sources of heat before turning on your AC.

Check for Air Leaks

• Ensure there are no places in the room where cool air could escape, such as open windows, doors or air vents. The cooling action of the air conditioner will be hampered by drafts.

De-Ice the Air Conditioner

• Select a warmer temperature setting and run the air conditioner on the highest fan speed to safely and gradually melt ice from the coils. Iced-up coils make air conditioning less efficient, resulting in poor quality cooling.