Air Conditioning Mistakes
Our air conditioner becomes our best friend during the summer months. We rely on it for some relief from the hot, summer sun. Thankfully, these machines require little effort from the homeowner to run smoothly, but when that little effort is forgotten, missed, or done incorrectly, problems begin to arise.
Here are some of the most common mistakes that homeowners make with their air conditioning, and hopefully you won’t be found guilty of doing the same.
Skipping Maintenance
It’s easy to forget about your air conditioner when it is seemingly working properly. However, even a fully functioning air conditioner needs to be taken care of every so often. At a maintenance tune-up, your technician will:
- Fix any problems
- Perform a thorough inspection of the unit
- Clean important components
- Identify potential problems that may arise
Overall, they are working to set your unit up for a successful cooling season! By identifying potential problems, they are also saving you from having to pay for more expensive repairs down the road. These regularly scheduled maintenance appointments will set your AC up for a longer lifespan filled with efficient cooling.
Using Dirty Filters
Your air filters are responsible for filtering air borne particles out of the air in your home. These pollutants include dust, pet dander, spores, and other allergens that irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. After a few months, these filters become clogged and are no longer capable of doing their job.
This creates an inefficient system as the AC now needs to work harder to push air through the clogged piece. Not only will this cost you more money on your energy bill, but it will also decrease your indoor air quality.
If you have a pet or live with someone who suffers from asthma, we recommend you change your filter every month. In other households, once every three months will do just fine.
Turning It Down Too Much
A common myth many homeowners believe is that turning down the temperature very low will cause your home to cool down faster. This is not the case, however. No matter what the thermostat is set to, your air conditioner will cool down the home at the same rate every time. Cranking the temperature down is bound to waste energy and cost you more money.
Blocking Vents
Vents are how the cool air gets from your ducts into your home. It’s important to not block these vents with furniture. A blocked vent cannot properly do its job and the room it’s in will not reach the desired temperature, resulting in your air conditioner running for longer in order to reach it.
The same goes for when you close vents to specific rooms. The closed vents will just make your air conditioner work harder, once again resulting in an overworked unit and higher energy bills.
Overusing The System
While your trusty old unit may seem to be working just fine, air conditioners aren’t meant to last forever. In fact, on average an air conditioner only lasts 15-20 years. Working an air conditioner past this lifetime could mean poor air quality, uneven cooling, and a higher risk of breakdowns.
If your unit is getting to be that age and presenting a couple of issues, it is probably time to replace it.
Air Conditioning Services On Long Island
If you have questions about your air conditioner, are looking to schedule repairs or a replacement, give Universe Home Services a call at (516) 473-0202.