Increasing air conditioner lifetime
The best way to extend the life of anything is through routine maintenance. For example, an air conditioning system. An air conditioner lifetime can be extended for years just by executing a handful of simple, quick tasks.
Replace air filters
Air filters are an underrated aspect of an air conditioning system. Though, they are essential to keeping air clean and to minimizing an AC unit’s output. Dust and debris can build up on the air filter over time. A build up will result in less space for air to pass through, causing the unit to work harder to cool a home. Therefore, it’s important for homeowners to replace air filters at least once every six months. Air filters can be purchased for just $2 – $3 each and you can buy them in packs.
Clean air ducts and outdoor unit
Cleaning is the simplest way to keep air flowing freely throughout a home. Air filter replacement is one part; however, keeping air ducts and outside units clean are additional important parts. General dust can collect within the ducts, preventing swift airflow. It’s best to have a professional come out to clean them rather than doing it yourself.
With that said, you can clean the outdoor unit on your own. Often times, twigs or leaves will get stuck in the fins of the unit. All you have to do is turn off the unit and remove any random objects from the fins. This would be a good time to give the area a look over to make sure there aren’t any leaks or additional obstructions, such as long grass or weeds. Simple preventive actions can increase air conditioner lifetime.
Optimize the use of your thermostat
There are all sorts of tricks to enhancing AC efficiency through the programming of your thermostat. First and foremost, don’t have your AC on at all times. Instead, allow it to rest by turning it off when you are not home. You can program your thermostat to turn on about an hour before you return home from work. This saves energy throughout the day, while still giving you a cool home to walk into when you call it a day. Also, experts recommend keeping your unit temperature to as close to 78° as possible. 78° is said to be the optimal temperature for comfort and energy savings.
Keep hot air out and cool air in
Insulation is also often overlooked. Basic oversights like improperly sealed windows or doors can allow hot air to unnecessarily enter a home. Go outside and wave your hand across window edges and door edges to determine whether or not cool inside air is seeping out. If so, all you have to do is seal the edges with simple DIY sealing.
Schedule an annual tune-up
Of course, you can pretty much take care of all of this at once if you schedule a tune-up with an air conditioning expert. An expert will look at everything—air ducts, air filters, insulation, obstructions, etc. He/she can even give you tips on how to keep your AC system fully-functional and long-lasting. At least, experts at Area Wide Services will. You can also look into a preventive maintenance contract to keep you AC system in good condition.
We do it all at Area Wide. We can help with tune-ups, repairs, replacements, and so much more! Contact Area Wide Services today at (903) 467-5620 to increase your air conditioner lifetime! Also, please visit our blog for additional information relating to your HVAC systems.