Wouldn’t it be great if you could buy an air conditioner, and never need to repair it? We wish this were the case for your sake, but the fact of the matter is that AC systems suffer from natural wear and tear just like any other appliance.
Of course, if you care for your system properly, you can certainly help avoid emergency repairs, and potentially even delay other repair needs. How so? By scheduling professional maintenance and by treating your air conditioner right. More on that below.
The Time for Maintenance Is Now
If you haven’t scheduled spring maintenance for your air conditioner yet, now is a perfect time. Seriously, right before you need your system the most.
That said, it’s never too late to schedule maintenance unless of course, the system has broken down completely with no hopes of repairs getting it working again. What matters more is that you’re consistent with maintenance. So if you had your air conditioner tuned up at the beginning of summer, and you’re reading this blog post in the summer, the time to schedule your next tune-up is still now!
Treating Your AC System Right
There are a number of steps you can take to care for your air conditioner system. Professional maintenance is the most important, as it improves system longevity and efficiency, and helps you avoid huge repair needs. But there are other steps you can take to improve efficiency and avoid repairs too, such as:
Raising the Temperature on Your Thermostat: No, we aren’t asking you to turn on the heat this summer—that wouldn’t make sense! However, you may be keeping your thermostat lower than necessary.
A lower thermostat setting doesn’t provide your home with cooling any faster. It just keeps the compressor running longer. This wears down the system faster, decreasing efficiency and making it more likely that you’ll have a repair need soon.
Our recommendation is to set your thermostat at 78°F during the day, as this is the temperature most people are comfortable at.
Check the Outdoor Unit for Debris: The outdoor part of your air conditioner is called the condenser unit, and this is where the AC system exhausts the heat it removes from your home. It cannot do this effectively, however, if the cabinet grill is dirty, or if trees and brush are obstructing it.
You want to clear out the area by about a foot on all sides to allow for appropriate airflow. We also recommend cleaning off any dirt or grime with a lower-pressured hose as to not damage the coils.
Clear Indoor Obstructions, Too: The outdoor unit of your air conditioner is not the only part susceptible to obstructions. Your indoor vents can be dusty, or can even get blocked by things like furniture, backpacks, toys, and more. This impact airflow coming into your home, leading to less comfort for you and an air conditioner that has to work too hard
When you do need professional AC repair, don’t hesitate to contact “Your Comfort Specialists” at AW Heating & Cooling today!