8 Huge Mistakes You're Making With Your A/C Unit

Posted by Benner on July 18th, 2021

All-time summer heat records keep giving in the weight of increasing worldwide temperatures-- a pattern that strikes house, actually and figuratively, when you get your monthly a/c expense. Errors you're making with your home A/C might be undercutting its efficiency, effectiveness, and safety, specialists say.

If Hallmark Plumbing and Heating you have a severely kept system, it can end up being contaminated with bacteria that may be harmful if inhaled. Typical symptoms are asthma problems and allergies.

Here are eight of the most common errors individuals make when it pertains to home AC, and some easy modifications that can save your lungs and wallet.

# 1. You Aren't Changing or Cleaning Your Air Conditioner Filters

At a minimum, you must be altering the filter on your main A/C system when every three months-- and as frequently as when a month if your system is running all the time.

Neglect this task, and a filthy filter can cause poor air circulation or freezing up of your system's evaporator coil, states James Braun, a teacher of engineering and director of the Center for High Performance Structures at Purdue University. A dirty filter could add 5% to 15% to your Air Conditioner expense, and will shorten the lifespan of your entire system. Replacement filters are pretty low-cost-- normally less than .

If you have ductless "split" AC units, there should be a removable panel on your unit that will permit you to rub out the filter with a rag-- no replacement needed.

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

You might look up online video tutorials about cleaning your AC 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 offers some pointers when browsing for AC service professionals.

# 3. You Don't Have a Programmable Thermostat

Possibly you are among those super-humans who always remembers to change the thermostat before leaving the home. But if you resemble the rest of us, a programmable thermostat can conserve you hundreds on your annual A/C bill by instantly raising the temp at those times of day when you're at work or far from house. Newer phone-controllable "wise" thermostats make programs even simpler.

# 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 bill for every degree you raise the temperature-- not to discuss the potential ecological advantages of lowering your AC use-- it deserves sweating through that adjustment duration and setting your thermostat somewhere in the high 70s (or higher if you can manage it).

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

Any kind of fan, however specifically ceiling fans, can assist keep cool air distributing throughout your house. That gets rid of a few of the burden from your A/C system. Just make certain your ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise throughout the summertime, which promotes greater air flow.

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

If the sun or a close-by lamp blasts your thermostat for big chunks of the day, that could shake off its readings and cause it to crank your Air Conditioner although your place is happily cool. Particularly if you're away throughout the day, you may not realize your system is working overtime due to a misplaced thermostat.

Blocking Air Conditioner vents with furnishings or curtains can also limit air circulation. Unless you invest a lot of time gathered under your sofa, you'll wish to be sure your Air Conditioning vents are unobstructed.

# 7. You're Cooling Empty Rooms

If Air Conditioner vents are open in every space of your house, you're chilling a lot of realty that may not be in use on a day-to-day basis. Walk around and close those AC vents that open onto empty rooms. Also, closing closet doors makes sure those spaces aren't swallowing your cold air.

# 8. You Do not Have Blinds Or Curtains

Bright sunshine is your Air Conditioner system's bane. By closing blinds and sliding drapes to obstruct the sun's rays, you'll likewise protect your area from the sun's heat, specialists state.