8 Huge Errors You're Making With Your Home AC System

Posted by Lucilla on April 28th, 2021

All-time summer season heat records keep buckling under the weight of rising worldwide temps-- a trend that hits home, actually and figuratively, when you receive your monthly a/c costs. Errors you're making with your home A/C might be damaging its efficiency, effectiveness, and safety, specialists state.

If you have a terribly maintained system, it can become polluted with bacteria that might be damaging if breathed in. Typical symptoms are asthma issues and allergic reactions.

Here are eight of the most typical mistakes individuals make when it comes to house Air Conditioner, and some simple modifications that can conserve your lungs and wallet.

# 1. You Aren't Changing or Cleaning Your A/C Filters

At a minimum, you should be changing the filter on your central Air Conditioning system as soon as every three months-- and as frequently as when a month if your system is running all the time.

Disregard this chore, and an unclean filter can cause poor air flow or freezing up of your system's evaporator coil, states James Braun, a teacher of engineering and director of the Center for High Efficiency Buildings at Purdue University. A dirty filter could add 5% to 15% to your Air Conditioner expense, and will shorten the lifespan of your whole system. Luckily, replacement filters are quite cheap-- normally less than .

If you have ductless "split" Air Conditioning systems, there must be a removable panel on your unit that will permit you to rub out the filter with a rag-- no replacement essential.

# 2. You're Not Having Your System Serviced Every Year

You might search for online video tutorials about cleaning your A/C unit's coils and fins-- necessary upkeep operations that keep your system up and running efficiently. You might also generate a pro to service your system once a year. The U.S. Department of Energy residential hvac toronto provides some ideas when browsing for A/C service professionals.

# 3. You Don't Have a Programmable Thermostat

Perhaps you're one of those super-humans who constantly remembers to change the thermostat before leaving the house. But if you resemble the rest of us, a programmable thermostat can save you hundreds on your annual Air Conditioner bill by automatically raising the temp at those times of day when you're at work or far from house. Newer phone-controllable "clever" thermostats make programming even easier.

# 4. You're Setting Your Thermostat Too Low

Research shows the body can adjusting to hot or cool temperature levels quite rapidly-- like within a week or more. When you consider you'll cut up to 3% off your Air Conditioner costs for each degree you raise the temperature level-- not to point out the prospective environmental benefits of reducing your Air Conditioning usage-- it deserves sweating through that modification duration and setting your thermostat somewhere in the high 70s (or greater if you can manage it).

# 5. You're Not Taking Full Advantage of Fans

Any type of fan, but specifically ceiling fans, can help keep one's cool air circulating throughout your house. That gets rid of a few of the concern from your Air Conditioner system. Simply make sure your ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise during the summertime, which promotes higher air flow.

# 6. Your Thermostat and/or Vents Are Badly Positioned

If the sun or a close-by light blasts your thermostat for huge pieces of the day, that might shake off its readings and trigger it to crank your AC despite the fact that your location is happily cool. Especially if you're away throughout the day, you may not recognize your system is working overtime due to a lost thermostat.

Blocking Air Conditioner vents with furnishings or drapes can also restrict air circulation. Unless you invest a great deal of time gathered under your sofa, you'll wish to make sure your Air Conditioning vents are unobstructed.

# 7. You're Cooling Empty Spaces

If Air Conditioning vents are open in every space of your home, you're chilling a lot of realty that might not remain in usage on a daily basis. Walk around and close those Air Conditioner vents that open onto unoccupied rooms. Likewise, closing closet doors ensures those spaces aren't swallowing your cold air.

# 8. You Don't Have Blinds Or Curtains

Brilliant sunlight is your AC system's bane. By closing blinds and sliding curtains to block the sun's rays, you'll also shield your space from the sun's heat, specialists say.