Air conditioners 101

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Air conditioners are a lifeline when local temperatures make a well-cooled home a welcome respite from the outdoors. Maintaining an AC unit ensures it will be there to keep everyone cool when the mercury rises. The following are some steps homeowners can take to keep their AC units in tip-top shape.

• Dirt, dust, debris and pollen can quickly fill the filter on an AC unit. Replacing filters can make the unit operate more efficiently and keep cool air circulating throughout the house. Homeowners can first identify which type of unit they have and then find an online tutorial to see how to replace the filter. Some filters are more expensive than others, but the cost is still low and the energy savings can be substantial.
• Routine maintenance performed by a local HVAC technician is another way to ensure an AC unit is running at peak capacity. Such maintenance is perhaps most effective in spring, as that ensures the unit is running strong from the first heat wave of the summer all the way through Labor Day. HVAC technicians can identify problems and recommend services that homeowners may not recognize they need until it’s already hot. Annual maintenance appointments also give HVAC professionals a chance to assess a system compared to the previous year, which can help them identify if a unit is nearing its end. That can ensure homeowners are not caught off guard when the unit needs to be replaced.
• Help the unit make it through the warmer months, when AC units can use a little help. Closing curtains on hot afternoons is a natural way to keep a home cool during a heat wave and that can cut back on home cooling costs and protect a unit from being overworked. Ceiling fans can be installed to keep rooms cool and circulate air, which also makes a hot summer a little less taxing on an AC unit.
• Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to set the temperatures inside their homes throughout the day. If no one is home during the afternoon, there’s no reason to have the AC cranking. Program the thermostat so the house is comfortable when people are home but raise the desired temperature when no one is around. That gives the AC unit a break during the day and can help to dramatically reduce the cost of cooling the home.

AC units will not last forever, but some simple maintenance can improve their life expectancy and keep homes comfortable.