Many parts of the United States are only made habitable because we have air conditioning. That is why at least two thirds of all homes in the country have it. If you want to avoid calling the local air conditioning repair contractors to come out and fix your unit or system, there are some things that you can to keep it running happy and healthy.
1. Check and change your air filters.
This is a very important part of air conditioning maintenance. This is also the most simple and easy thing you can do to keep your air conditioning unit running the way you want it to run. The amount of time in between when you need to check the filters can depend on a lot of factors such as where you live, if you have pets, how much time you are in the home (vacation homes do not need to be checked as often). If you are not sure how often you need to check, you can ask the local air conditioning repair company.
When you find out that the air filter is clogged or dirty, you need to change it right away. There are a number of reasons for this. In the first place, when the filters are clogged, the system has to work a lot harder for it to work. This leads to higher power bills but also an increased chance that the system will break down. It is much, much cheaper to replace an air filter than to replace an entire air conditioning system.
Also, clogged and dirty air conditioning filters can pose a fire hazard. This is just another reason you really need to change your filters when they get clogged.
2. Take a look at your thermostat.
Look at the thermostat to make sure it is doing its job correctly. You want to make sure it is keeping your home at the right temperature. Make sure you have nothing heating it up. Oftentimes people do not realize that the lamp they have next to the thermostat is keeping the air conditioning on longer that it is needed because the lamp heats the thermostat up.
If you do not already have a programmable thermostat, you may want to look into getting one. These can be programmed by time and even zone in the home. These can be great ways to lower your energy bills and to keep your air conditioning system from overworking, which can lead to it breaking down so that you having to call in the local air conditioning repair company.
Many of the newer programmable thermostats are also online so you can keep an eye on the temperature of your home from work or even from vacation.
3. Examine the condenser fan.
Shut off the power source of the air conditioning unit. There is a fan mounted to the top of your air conditioning unit. If you need to, you should have the fan blades replaced. This is needed if you see any cracks or chips in the blades. If you have any questions about this, you should contact the local air conditioning repair company to help.
4. Check the outdoor unit.
Your outdoor air conditioning unit needs to be kept completely clear. This means you should clear off any debris, dirt, leaves, clippings from the yard or anything else that you find on the unit that can impact the air flow in and out of the system.
Turn off the power source for your outdoor system. Take your hose and rinse off any dust, dirt or other debris that is on the unit. You should take care to hold the hose at a 45 degree angle and make sure you are very gentle with it. Some people think they need a lot of power for this job and try to use a power washer. This just damages the unit. Then you have to call the local air conditioning repair company to come out and fix it. Never use a power washer on this system.
Everyone wants their air conditioning unit to work well all summer long. These systems never seem to break down at any point except the hottest day of the year. By following these tips, you can keep your running all summer.