There are only a few parts of the United States where you can live without air conditioning. Air conditioning units have been installed in at least two-thirds of American homes. It accounts for 5% of all electricity that is used in the country. Every year, it costs $11 million. While regular maintenance is very important to keeping air conditioning units running well, only 42% bother to take the time to do what they need to do. That may be very beneficial for all of the air conditioning repair services around the country, it is not good for homeowners.
The first thing you need to know is where to place your air conditioning unit. When you have it installed, place it in a shady spot. It is a well known fact that when you place your air conditioning unit in a shady spot, it will run more effectively and efficiently. This is an easy thing to do but many people are not aware of this so they place their units in a very sunny area. That just makes the unit have to work harder.
Tips to Keeping Your Air Conditioning Unit Running Smoothly:
Check and change your filters:
This is one of the easiest yet most often overlooked things that a homeowner can do to keep their heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) system running smoothly. At least once a month, check your filters and make sure they are not clogged. All of the air in your home will pass through your air conditioning filters. That means they get full of dirt and dust. If you see that your filters are full of dust and dirt, change them. It is much cheaper to do this than call out an air conditioning repair service to fix your system.
The frequency with which you will have to change the filters will depend on where you live. If you live in a very dusty space or an urban environment, you may need to change the filters more often. Remember, you are breathing this air. If the filters are dirty, the quality of the are you are breathing will suffer. A clogged filter can also be a fire hazard.
Check and clean your vents:
A few times a year, you should go through and check your vents for any obstructions, debris, dust and dirt. You can do this on your own but you can also bring in an air conditioning maintenance company to do it for you.
Monitor your freon usage:
Freon is the coolant used by air conditioning units. They do not actually consume the freon and in a perfect world, you would never have to buy it. We do not live in a perfect world. If you see that your freon is disappearing, you probably have a leak and will need to have an air conditioning repair service check your unit. This should be a part of your air conditioning service plan (if you have one and it is a good idea to get one).
Make sure nothing is blocking your condenser:
You should periodically check your air conditioning unit to make sure there is no debris such as branches, leaves or anything else that is around or on the unit itself. The system needs to be able to draw air into it. This is another easy thing for you to check and to fix.
Bring in an air conditioning service company:
At least once a year, you should bring in an air conditioning repair service to check your entire system for problems. They can do a professional cleaning of your vents, which is always going to be more thorough and complete than anything you can do yourself. When you have them come out to your home, make sure they check the electrical controls and coils. Another thing they can do for you is calibrate your thermostat. This service should be a part of any service plan.
We rely on our air conditioning units to keep our homes cool and comfortable. When it breaks down it always seems to be on the hottest day of the year. Keeping it running smoothly is not rocket science. Simple maintenance will go a long way.
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