As the summer months approach, now is the best time for homeowners to inspect their home’s HVAC unit. Although proper maintenance is important year-round, it’s now more important than ever for both the thermostat and air conditioner to be in perfect, working order.
Ensuring your house reaches a comfortable temperature can be crucial for your family’s health and convenience. However, as time passes in an older home, you may be thinking about replacing your air conditioner for a new model, or a more modern technology. Unfortunately, a completely new installation may be expensive. The good news is that there are many precautions that a homeowner can take in order to extend their HVAC’s lifespan. Here, we will look at just three easy air conditioning tips for when you can’t afford a new installation, but need your HVAC to be pumping clean, cool air throughout your home.
1. Keep those air filters clean.
There are numerous reasons why you should be changing out your air conditioner’s air filters every few months. Your HVAC system is an expensive piece of equipment. When your air filters are dirty, clogs can build up, compromising the machine itself. The air filters’ primary job is to catch dirt, dust, pet dander, and other harmful allergens, then remove them from your household’s oxygen circulation. Changing those dirty filters not only improves the air quality of your living space, but the smooth airflow through the ventilation allows the HVAC to run with less energy and stress.
In general, this energy efficiency can save you a bundle of money on monthly utility bills. It’ll also extend the lifespan of the air conditioner itself. If you want to save money and minimize heating and cooling issues, all while protecting your family’s health, changing your air filters every two months is a good idea.
2. Keep an eye on your thermostat.
One of the best ways to ensure your air conditioner will continue to work efficiently is to monitor your home’s thermostat. If you’ve suspected that there’s an issue with the HVAC equipment due to the house not cooling to the thermostat’s stated lower temperature, it may be a good idea to simply check the smaller unit’s batteries.
However, even if there’s no problem with the thermostat itself, a good rule of thumb is to keep it at a consistent temperature setting for both energy efficiency and to control your monthly energy costs. Other members of your family may be adjusting the household’s temperature unnecessarily, which not only drives up the utility bills but can be bad for the wear and tear of your HVAC unit. It’s important to remember that this unit may need a replacement, too. Never fear! Replacing your air conditioner may be an expensive undertaking, but choosing to upgrade your thermostat for a more modern, energy-efficient model is significantly less expensive. If energy consumption is a major concern, research a programmable thermostat for your home and consider if your budget may allow for such an installation. Having a new thermostat that’s compatible with your AC system may save you a lot of money on energy usage in the long run.
3. Schedule regular maintenance throughout the year.
Even if your AC system is running perfectly, there’s only one truly effective strategy to keep it that way: schedule regular preventative maintenance with a professional air conditioner technician. As a homeowner, you may be pretty knowledgeable regarding the ins and outs of your home’s energy and air systems, but only a professional technician will have the experience and tools to check the ductwork, vents, air filters, and the air conditioner itself. If there are any potential problems with any of these areas, a technician will be able to make the needed repairs and conduct an energy audit of your home’s sustainability. In effect, regular maintenance is one of the most effective ways to extend the overall longevity of your home’s air system.