If you’re in a region with a hot and humid climate, chances are that your air conditioner is on all day, every day. You might even find yourself cranking the heat during the winter months and running your AC during any time of the year. All this working leads to wear and tear on your AC unit. This is especially true if you’ve owned your AC for a number of years or you don’t service your unit regularly. As AC units age, they can lose efficiency. If the unit is going bad, it can lead to higher energy bills or even accidental burns.
Watching your AC go bad can feel like a hassle when you don’t get the hot and cold air that you need, but you don’t have to worry about it burning out or your family freezing when this happens. Follow these tips and tricks to ensure that your AC unit stays in good working condition for as long as possible.
Keeping your AC unit clean
We all know that a dirty window will not let in as much heat, but it’s also true that a dirty AC will not cool the room as effectively. You can reduce the amount of dirt in your unit by trying to keep it clean. Have you ever noticed if you have a window cleaner out and blow outside the wet substance moves very quickly leaving little negative traces of the product on the surfaces of windows? This is the same thing with your air conditioner. If you keep cleaning it and wiping it down, you’ll notice that the dirt and grime build up on the evaporator coils.
The clean air is cooled by the condensation of water, then it’s blown out the vents. This creates humidity which is the main cause of condensation on your AC unit. Furminator brushes will help clean your coils and get rid of any dirt buildup.
Get a humidifier
A humidifier can help reduce the amount of energy that your AC unit uses. It also helps to maintain your comfort level as well. One great way to get rid of the humidity in the air is by using a humidifier. A humidifier produces moisture that you can add into your unit to reduce the amount of condensation build up. It is also very effective at maintaining a comfortable humid environment for rooms and beds where the temperature is kept low.
Clean filters
In order for your AC unit to maintain efficient cooling, it needs clean air and clean air comes from a clean filter. By using a clean filter, you can help to prevent dirt and dust from being blown around the room. A dirty filter will have to work harder, meaning that it might not do such a good job in cleaning the air. Instead, you’ll be breathing in more dust and particles into the air then you should be. Also, it’s important to make sure that your filters are changed when they need to be changed so that your AC doesn’t work as hard trying to compensate for the change in airflow.
Turn Off Unnecessary Appliances
If you want to keep your AC running all day, every day and you don’t want to pay more in energy bills because of it, try to avoid turning on other appliances when your AC is running. Other appliances in the house can start up and create heat that your AC has to work hard to cool down. This will lower the efficiency of your system and increase the amount of money that you spend on cooling the house.
The easiest way to avoid the other appliances from being turned on is to only use them when you’re at home, especially if that means you might need your AC unit a little more often. If all of your appliances are in one room, try to turn off the heat and air conditioning while they’re not in use. Do not, however, let these appliances run continuously if you can help it. If you do need to run them, try to turn them off as soon as they’re not being used.
Dress for the environment
It’s important to pay attention to the outside and the temperature on a daily basis. It’s especially important during the hot summer months when you can really feel the difference between 90 and 100 degree days when it feels like 110 degrees. If you’re spending a lot of time outside in these conditions, dress appropriately. This can be as simple as wearing casual clothing or a light jacket. You should also consider bringing a portable fan outside with you in order to help keep the air moving.
Fix AC
It’s important to keep your AC unit in good working order, but it’s also important to keep your house livable. If you feel that your AC is no longer cooling your home effectively, or you see the light on the thermostat switch into the red warning zone, then it’s best to get a professional HVAC technician to inspect your system. This can help you find any problems early on so that they don’t lead to more expensive expenses down the road.
Also, make sure that you regularly service your air conditioning unit. This will help keep your unit running smoothly for as long as possible. If you have a central HVAC system in your home, it may be a good idea to have a professional come once every year to inspect the system and clean the coils on the outside of your roof. If you have an indoor unit, consider having a professional inspect every year.
Conclusion
You want to keep your air conditioner in good condition so it can last longer. Among the things you can do to accomplish this is to use humidifiers, clean the filters, clean your AC unit, and get the unit checked by a professional HVAC technician at least once a year.
The best way to make your AC unit last longer is to keep it clean and clean the filters. The filters are going to the most important one, it is a part of your air conditioner that you can see when you open your blinds. A dirty filter will affect the airflow in your AC unit, and this will cause it to work harder which means that you’ll use more energy and money. If you have any problems with your AC unit, then call an HVAC technician from Spectrum Heating and Air.
