Air conditioning systems make it possible to live and be comfortable in areas all over the United States. Because of this, at least two-thirds of all American households have some sort of air conditioning system in place to keep their homes cool and comfortable throughout the hot months of the year. Before you head out to find out about air conditioning installation services, there are some things you can do to get your system working better. Here are a few:
- Check your filters. Every 30 days or so, you need to check the air filters. You will need to change them when the filters become dirty or clogged with dust, dirt, or other debris. This is one of the top things that air conditioning contractors recommend people do to keep their system running well. There are a few reasons for this. When the air filters are clogged, the motor has to work harder to do its job. This can cause it to burn out and make you need to have a new unit installed. Clogged air filters are also dangerous because they can cause fires in your home.
- Make sure the outside unit is clear and free of debris. From time to time, you should make sure there are no leaves, branches or other debris on or near your air conditioning unit. In order for it to function properly, air needs to be able to flow freely in and out of the unit in question. If this is not possible because there is furniture around the unit or debris has fallen on top of it, your unit will not be able to work the way you need it to.
- Have your ducts checked and cleaned. While you do not have to have this done as often as you check your air filters, you should have a professional come in and check and clean your ductwork. This will make both your cooling and heating systems work more efficiently and help them last longer. To preventing the need to have a new heating or cooling system installed, take of this every three to five years.
- Look at your thermostat. If you do not have a digital thermostat, you should consider getting one. These allow you to set a timer for when your heat or air conditioning kicks in so that you pay to keep your home comfortable when people are at home but not when everyone is at work or at school. With most newer systems, you can check on your home’s temperature from other places because the thermostat can be hooked into your home’s WiFI network. This can improve your peace of mind when you are away on vacation. You should also make sure it is not placed near a heat or cooling source so that it accurately measures the temperature in the room. If your thermostat is near the oven, it will think your home is a lot hotter than it actually is, for instance.
- Use ceiling fans. Ceiling fans can and should be used in the summer and winter. When you want the fans to direct hot air downwards, you should make sure it is running in the clockwise direction (when you are looking up at it). When you want the fan to draw cool air upwards, reversing the ceiling fan can do that. This will make both your air conditioning and heating systems more efficient with less effort.
- Think about upgrading your system. If your heating or air conditioning system is really old, it may be time to talk to someone about installing a new system. Newer heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) are a lot more energy efficient and can pay for themselves as your utility bill will go down by a lot when you have a new system put in. There may even be tax breaks you can get to put in a more energy efficient system so you may want to ask local contractors and your accountant if there are any programs to help pay for this kind of installation project.
All homeowners can follow these simple steps to keep their air conditioning units running smoothly and work well throughout the year.