Keep Your Air Conditioner Running With These Three Steps
Knowing a trusted HVAC contractor to call if your home's air conditioning breaks down can prevent you and your family from having to suffer in the heat for any real length of time. As much as it's ideal to have a relationship with this type of contractor, you'd probably not have to call him or her more than necessary. An effective way to prevent the need for repair work is to take a proactive role in keeping your unit running smoothly. An air conditioner is not something you should just ignore; by tending to it through these steps, you'll prevent unnecessary wear and lessen your risk of having to call for repair work.
Keep The Condenser Unit Unobstructed
Proper care for your air conditioner's condenser unit, which is the metal box located outside your home, can reduce the risk of a breakdown. This unit needs proper air circulation around it, and allowing grass, plants or any sort of vegetation to impede on the unit can reduce its efficiency and potentially cause it to overheat. Check your air conditioner's manual to determine the exact amount of clearance your condenser unit requires and then use the appropriate garden and lawn tools to ensure there's an open area around the box.
Don't Run It Unnecessarily
While the idea of a cool home is always palatable, especially in the hot summer months, you'll wear your air conditioner out sooner by running the unit unnecessarily. Set your thermostat to allow the air conditioner to turn off when your home is empty and at night. Using a smart thermostat, controllable through an app on your smartphone, is also ideal. For example, if you have the unit set to turn on shortly before you arrive home from work but find yourself delayed, you can use the app to adjust the unit to keep it turned off until necessary.
Make Your Home Air Tight
Small leaks in your home can allow hot exterior air to enter your home and mingle with the air conditioner's cool air. This will raise the overall temperature inside your home, prompting your A/C to run longer in order to lower the temperature to your desired setting. Over time, this issue will add hours of extra use to your unit. Plug any leaks in your home, particularly those around windows and doors, with caulking to make your home more air tight.
For more information talk to an air conditioning repair service.