The end of summer may be in sight but you still want to get the most out of your air conditioning while you’re still using it frequently. Use some of the operational tips to keep it running smoothly and efficiently so you stay cool without wasting energy and money:
Change Your Air Filters
After too much dust has accumulated on your air filters, the air conditioning system will have to work harder to push air through them. This can cause a spike in your energy bills and increase the amount of wear and tear your system endures, decreasing its longevity.
Keep The Outdoor Unit Clean
Don’t allow debris such as leaves, dirt or grass clippings to gather on the outdoor unit. This can affect the efficiency of the condensing coil, the component responsible for dumping heat outside of your home. Simply sweep debris away and occasionally spray your equipment down with a water hose to rinse dirt off of it.
Shade Your Windows
By blocking out sunlight, you can keep your house much cooler and not need to run your air conditioning as much. As much as 20 percent of your air conditioning bill can be from your A/C working to counter heat from sunlight. Simply keep your window curtains drawn or install solar shade screens. These have a special weave that keeps out sunlight and are slightly darker than regular screening.
Schedule Preventive Maintenance
Just like a car or truck, your A/C needs to be inspected regularly to keep it performing optimally. An HVAC specialist will inspect all the components for wear and tear to make sure that no pending problems will result in you not having your A/C for an extended period of time. There is no bad time to have your air conditioner inspected, and if it has been more than a year since your last maintenance, you should schedule one soon.
For more tips and strategies you can use to keep your air conditioning performing at its best, contact Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. We have been serving the Dayton area since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. To get started, check out our website or request an appointment.
