Tips on keeping your central AC unit running efficiently
Your AC unit can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It’s a luxury on a hot summer day and a nightmare if it ever breaks down and needs repairs or, worst of all, a replacement.
We’ve put together a few, low cost, DIY steps you can take to keep your AC unit running efficiently and breakdown-free.
Keep space around the unit
Obviously, AC units aren’t the most attractive part of your home’s exterior. While it may seem like you can improve the look of your home by hiding your unit with plants, fences, or trellises, we recommend that you don’t.
The efficiency of your unit depends on proper airflow, so we recommend keeping at least 3 feet of space between the unit and any foliage or other obstructions. Be sure to regularly trim back plants and bushes, and pick up any leaves or loose debris following a storm or windy weather that could impede your unit’s airflow.
Give it a bath
Along with keeping away obstructions near your AC unit, you’ll also want to wash away any obstructions ON your unit. As your condenser pulls in air, pollen and other small particles will collect on the exterior of your AC unit and potentially impede the unit’s airflow.
Simply take your garden hose and with a solid stream of water spray up and down the condenser to get rid of any particle build up.
Don’t completely close registers
It may seem logical to close registers in one area of your home to help shift cool air into another part of your home. This is especially common in two story homes when the second level stays warmer than the lower level.
Completely closing registers can lead to your unit’s coils getting backed up and freezing, which can completely debilitate your unit and cause it to fail. Avoid this mistake by leaving a small opening on the registers you’d like closed so there’s still some balance of air flow. The majority of the air will still shift to the other registers and you’ll avoid freezing your unit’s coils.
Change the filter regularly
This may seem like a no-brainer, but many homeowners don’t change their filter often enough. A good rule of thumb is to change your air filter every 90 days, but it really depends on the circumstances. How often are you running your unit? How dirty is the air? Is your family sensitive to allergens? These are all things to consider that may increase the frequency how often you should change your filter to keep your unit running efficiently.
Programmable thermostats are your friend
Programming your AC unit to a desired temperature will help prolong the life of your unit by mitigating overuse and the wear and tear of continually turning the unit on and off. Set temperatures and timing features allows the unit to operate efficiently when it’s needed most and at the correct times throughout the heat of day.
Shade over sun
On a hot, sunny day be sure to close your blinds and shades to keep the sun from heating up your home. The cooler you can keep your home with shade, the less your AC unit needs to run and the longer it will operate efficiently and the more energy and money you’ll save.
Book HVAC service annually
No matter how meticulous you are in maintaining your AC unit’s efficiency on your own, we recommend hiring a pro for a professional service at least once a year before the warm season.
A trained HVAC technician can detect most problems with worn parts or other technical issues before they become major problems while potentially saving you thousands in repairs and replacement costs.
If you’re due for an HVAC service now, just submit a request below and the Househappy team will help you out.