Air Conditioning Service Repair: Air Conditioner Dos And Don’ts
You need an air conditioner to keep your house cool. For you to get the most from the unit you need to do a number of things and avoid others. Here are some of the air conditioner dos and don’ts as given by air conditioning service repair professionals:
Air conditioner dos
Use a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to easily control the temperature in the house. Using the thermostat, you are able to set the temperature that you would want the air conditioner to start working at, and the temperature that you would want it to stop.
If you haven’t already installed the thermostat in your home, you should go ahead and install it. While the unit is highly effective, it’s usually very easy to use. When you buy it, it comes with a manual that you can use to learn how to properly use it.
Change the air filter: The air filter filters dirt, debris, and other particles and prevents them from getting into your house. When you go for months without cleaning or replacing it, it accumulates a lot of dust particles that clog it.
A clogged air filter not only fails to filter the air getting into the house, it also results in the overworking of the air conditioner. As a consequence, the air conditioner consumes a lot of energy. The unit also works too hard which puts it at the risk of getting damaged.
For you to keep the air filter functioning optimally, you should clean it at least once a month. If the filter is damaged or too dirty for cleaning, consider replacing it.
Service and maintain the air conditioner: Like any other mechanical devices, you need to service the air conditioning unit regularly. The best way out is hiring an AC tune-up professional at least once a year to inspect the unit and fix any issues that might be present.
During the inspection, the tune-up professional should check the fans, coils, electrical elements and any other parts of the unit.
Use fans, vents, and curtains: Do you have ceiling fans? Leave them running so that they can push the cool air down and spread to the other parts of the house. You also should uncover the vents and open them fully in order to allow cool air to flow through them.
Are there rooms in the house you don’t use? Close the vents in order to save energy and at the same time allow cool air to circulate. When it comes to blinds and curtains, close them during the day to keep out the sun’s rays.
Air conditioner don’ts
Don’t buy an air conditioner that is too big: Bigger isn’t always better. Many people tend to buy bigger air conditioners thinking that they will give them a better service, but this isn’t always the case. An air conditioner that is too big will simply consume a lot of energy which translates to a high energy bill at the end of the month.
A large unit also might cool your house too much thus making the house uncomfortable to live in.
If you aren’t sure of the right unit that you should go for, ask an air conditioning expert to help you in choosing a good one.
Don’t put the air conditioner in a hot spot: You shouldn’t put the air conditioner at any place. As rule of thumb, don’t put it at a hot spot. You should note that doing so makes the air conditioner work harder than it should which not only results to it consuming a lot of energy, it also tends to break down too frequently.
The best place to put the air conditioner is in a shady spot, away from direct sunlight.
Don’t hide the air conditioner: While you should protect the unit from direct sunlight, you shouldn’t hide it. Don’t hide it behind shrubs or other plants. This is to prevent clogging the condenser coils, hindering ventilation, and making the air conditioner run inefficiently.
Keeping the air conditioner running optimally
For the air conditioner to function optimally, air conditioning companies McLean recommend that you regularly maintain the unit. At least once a year, hire an expert to go through the unit and fix any issues that might be there.
