In the summer months, many people will head to their pools or local lakes and ponds to keep cool and try to beat the heat. Others, however, will stay indoors and crank up the AC and avoid the heat all together. Nowadays, that is becoming more and more popular. According to some estimates, just under 90% of all single family homes in the United States have central air conditioning units to help both kids and adults stay cool. Though going outside and playing is something that lots of kids enjoy during their summer break away from school, sometimes, soaking up the AC is also becoming an American pastime.
But though AC provides some welcome relief during the hottest times of the year, not every homeowner properly takes care of their systems. In fact, according to the EIA, only 42% central AC units in the United States are serviced annually. This means that many will have to hire heat and cooling services to make air conditioning repairs that might have been avoidable. A bit of regular maintenance might be time consuming, but it could help save money stay cool in the long run.
When it comes to air conditioning, people might immediately think of homes in Florida, Arizona, and other hot states where temperatures regularly get above 100 degrees. However, heat and cooling services are needed year round all over the country. The EIA reports that more than a third of homes in the Northeast use central AC units all summer long. While the northern states might not get quite as hot as those in the south, they are quite warm compared to the often brutal winters, and AC units are often a must-have.
Lots of people from around the country choose to use window units to keep specific areas of a home, like their bedroom, cool, rather than spend money on central AC. According to stats from the EIA, just 16% of homes in the Southern U.S. still do, but more than a quarter in the West have them. Though they might be found in relatively few homes in some states, window AC units are a great option for keeping third-story bedrooms or small apartments cool during the hottest times of the year.
Unfortunately, even the strongest and most well-built AC units, and even heaters, will break down and stop running properly every now and then. When that happens, contacting heat and cooling service experts right away is the best way to make sure that your home stays comfortable, no matter what time of year it may be. Read more here.