Summer can be hot and uncomfortable. You’ll want to have an air conditioner that you can trust to make your home a sanctuary from the heat. Some air conditioners enjoy lifetimes of up to 25 years, but they will only last that long if you treat them well. Here are six tips on how to extend the life expectancy of your air conditioner.
1. Change the Filters
Every air conditioner has a filter that collects debris in the air. If the filter becomes full, the unit can end up blowing the debris back into your home. This will lower the air quality in your house. It will also prevent the air from moving properly, so you need to clean the filter regularly. Usually, there is a light on the unit to make you aware of when it is time. If you aren’t sure about how to change the filter, ask your local HVAC professional to teach you.
2. Clean Your Ducts
The ducts are like the lungs of your home; they carry the conditioned air throughout your rooms. If these ducts aren’t properly cleaned, the air won’t be able to reach all of the different nooks and crannies of your house. One of the biggest signs that you need your ducts cleaned right away is the air not cooling a certain room. Most people can’t clean the ducts themselves, so they hire a professional to get the job done properly. To help keep your ducts clean, you should close off the ducts to any rooms that you don’t need to be cooled. They won’t get as dirty if they aren’t being used very often.
3. Use Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat can be programmed to change temperatures automatically. Most people choose to set the thermostat higher when everyone leaves the house for the day. After all, the home won’t need to be cooled while no one is there. You can start the air conditioning cooler about a half an hour before everyone returns. A smart thermostat will help prevent you from accidentally leaving the air conditioning on throughout the day. This will help save you money on your utility bills. Also, you’ll always be comfortable since you have the thermostat set to change according to your schedule.
4. Find Alternative Methods to Keep Cool
If you want to help your air conditioner last as long as possible, you’ll want to reduce how often you use it. Luckily, there are a number of other ways to cool off your house. On beautiful days that aren’t too hot, you can just open the windows. The fresh air may even help improve the air quality in your home. You can also opt to use the fans more often. Fans are less expensive to run than your air conditioner. They are also quite effective if you only need to cool off one room instead of a whole home. You should also ensure your home is properly insulated, and you don’t want to turn on the oven if you don’t have to.
5. Get Regular Maintenance
After a while, your HVAC unit will need a bit of a tune-up. This goes beyond simply changing the filter. A professional HVAC contractor will come and completely clean the unit. They will also inspect the unit to ensure it’s working properly. Most people get maintenance in the spring before it gets too hot to keep the air conditioner in top condition for the summer.
6. Get Repairs ASAP
Just like any other appliance in your home, the unit may break. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the unit is broken. Some common repair problems include:
- Air not cooling down
- Unit not turning on
- Leaks
- Freezing
If there’s an obvious problem with the unit, you should call for repairs right away to prevent the issue from getting worse.
Your air conditioner can last longer than you may expect, but you’ll need to be the one to extend the life of your unit. These tips will help your air conditioner last for another summer or two if you start early. This means you won’t have to pay for a new unit as soon. Call BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair for more advice on how to keep your unit running for as long as possible. We provide a variety of heating and cooling services for the Las Vegas Valley.
