We rely on central air conditioning, especially during the summer months. It is cheaper to maintain the appliance regularly than to repair or replace it.
Fortunately, there are a few simple things that homeowners can do to keep their AC unit running efficiently.
- Keep plants cut back around the A/C unit. Many homeowners do their best to hide the unit from the site. But since they need an adequate amount of airflow around all sides to perform at peak efficiency experts recommend that landscaping and other objects be placed about 3 feet away from the unit itself.
- Wash pollen and other debris off the condenser unit. The condenser cools the air, pollen and other debris will often cling to its exterior. This will restrict airflow and cause a decrease in cooling efficiency and perhaps even cause the unit to overheat.
- Do not close any registers completely. This might cause the coils in the unit to freeze and the AC to quit functioning.
- Change the filter regularly. Maintaining a central air conditioning unit is all about maintaining airflow. It may be beneficial to change the air filter more frequently in the hot months.
- Set temperatures in a programmable thermostat. Setting the temperature by day and time is a good way to reduce the overall unit usage.
- Keep the sun out. Another excellent way to keep the air conditioner from needing to run as often is to block the sun during the hottest part of the day. This way the home’s interior temperature will not rise as much.
Apply these tips to keep your air conditioner unit running efficiently all summer.
