Taking a little time to understand a few things about your air conditioning system can help maintain its efficiency and lower the risks of problems. Some things you should leave to professional air conditioning services, but here are a few things you should know about your home's AC.
1. How and When to Change Your AC Filters
Replacing or cleaning dirty filters is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your AC cool and efficient. A clogged filter decreases AC performance and increases wear on other AC components.
The process for swapping a filter will depend on your AC's manufacturer. The manufacturer will have guidelines for how often you should change the filter and recommendations for filter types you can use.
In most cases, all you need to do is turn off the appliance, find the filter compartment, remove the filter and swap in the fresh one. If you have a reusable filter, wash it according to the manufacturer's specifications, wait until it's completely dry, then put it back into the filter compartment.
2. How to Keep Conditioned Air Where You Need It
You can easily assume you have an AC problem when areas of the home refuse to stay cool. Many homes have airflow issues that have more to do with their ducts, windows, and doors than with the performance of their air conditioner.
You may find the performance of your AC increases tremendously if you do some or all the following:
- Keep windows properly sealed
- Keep doorway gaps sealed
- Make sure your ducts aren't leaking air
Even if you're only dealing with a window AC unit, all these rules apply. However, when using a window unit, make sure you fully seal the window gap around the air conditioner with tape, foam, caulk, weatherstripping, or a combination of those things.
In addition, make sure you're not closing off AC airflow by closing or blocking vents. With central air, you should keep doors open or at least ajar so the conditioned air circulates properly.
3. How to Maintain Your AC
Some basic AC maintenance can help keep your AC problem-free and working as intended. Generally keeping the unit dusted and free of dirt accumulation can help. Nevertheless, professional maintenance from an air conditioning technician around once a year will help your AC work better and last longer for your home.
A professional service will inspect the system, check for potential problems, make necessary component replacements, and generally ensure your AC works and will continue to work as intended. Your AC needs professional maintenance, and that's one of the most important things a homeowner should know about their AC system. For more information, contact an air conditioning service.
