Through proper maintenance, you can keep your air conditioner working exceptionally all year long. If you do this, then there is no reason your AC system will be unable to last over 25 years. On average, most air conditioning systems last between 15 and 25 years. You definitely want to pay attention to how your AC holds up during the summer when you will probably use it more often. During this season, here are a few tips for keeping your system in prime condition.
1. Change the Filter
This is the first thing you should do as soon as summer starts. New air filters are relatively inexpensive to acquire, and they are simple to swap out. A clean air filter helps the system run more efficiently, so you ultimately save power through this action. In general, you should install new filters once every few months. You may need to do it more frequently during the summer when you use the AC more frequently.
2. Program the Thermostat
Many AC systems have thermostats that allow you to program what temperature you want the home to be at any given time during the day. Chances are good you will be away during the day to go to work, so there is no need to have the AC run during this time. Therefore, you can program the thermostat to be at a higher temperature during the day. You can set it so that it goes down to the desired temperature when you would be home. This puts less strain on the system and saves you money.
3. Get Rid of Obstructions Around the Vents
You should take note of where all the vents are in your home. During most of the year when you do not really use the system, certain items may have accumulated around the vents. You want to remove any items blocking airflow from the vents. If you do not, then the room will not cool down properly. At that point, you are spending money on the AC system without reaping any of the benefits.
4. Get a Tune-Up
No list of summer AC maintenance tips would be complete without stating the importance of having a professional come out to your home once annually to inspect the HVAC system. The beginning of summer is a good time to do this because professionals will not be as busy. The middle of summer when a lot of homeowners are calling them to report problems will make them incredibly busy. Get ahead of any problems instead of reacting to them.
5. Reduce Humidity Levels
You should seriously consider investing in a dehumidifier if you want your AC system to function more effectively. A dehumidifier will reduce the amount of humidity in a room, and a room with less humidity will be much easier to cool. Dehumidifiers come in all different sizes and costs, so you need to consider which one would be best for your specific type of home.
6. Prevent Heat Sources From Entering Your Home
Another way to get the most out of your AC is to prevent sunlight from entering your home. You should pull the blinds to prevent sunlight from getting inside because this will add heat to the room. This makes it harder to cool down the room, making the system work harder than it needs to. You definitely want to be mindful if there are any windows that face south or west.
You should be able to relax during the summer without worrying about the AC breaking down or spending a fortune to run it. These tips are simple and affordable to implement. In many cases, you can hire a professional to take care of most maintenance for you.
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