Does this sound familiar?. On the hottest day of the year, the air conditioner in your home begins blowing out warm air or stops operating altogether. Along with hundreds of other people in our city, you reach for the phone to call your HVAC specialist, and suffer with the heat until they arrive. While some A/C issues absolutely require a professional to service them, here are a few tips that can be used to minimize the possibility of this happening to you this summer.
Maximize Air Flow
To work properly, your air conditioner needs to pull air through the system, including recirculating air throughout the rooms of your home. If this process is obstructed in any way, it can result in trouble and repair costs. To guarantee great air flow, make sure to keep clear the immediate area around the vents - indoors and outside. This includes scaling back vegetation and cleaning dirt away from vents.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Controlling the consumption of your indoor energy use is simple with a programmable thermostat. Adjust the temperature of your home to run less when you are at work or school, and automatically increase to a desired temperature when you are actually in the home.
In addition, program your thermostat for lengthier run-cycles. We are not suggesting that this will prevent problems, it can help bring down the humidity in your Albany area home. This can offer a more comfortable environment, in addition to keep mold spores from thriving in your home.
Watch Out for Those Pests
For some reason certain bugs and pests are attracted to air conditioning units, which can be damaging if they get inside the system. To keep ants and other pests away, use an eco-friendly pesticide around the exterior of the unit and check on it regularly throughout the summer.
Stay Level
The majority of outdoor A/C units are positioned on a concrete slab or other platform, giving them a level base of operation. However, just like a home’s foundation, your A/C’s platform can also sink or settle into the ground, limiting the performance of the air conditioner. Keep an eye on your outdoor component to ensure that the base continues to stay level.
Obviously, regular maintenance, such as lubrication and filter changes, are pretty important to keep your air conditioner functioning well. Make sure to schedule annual maintenance service before the summer starts to ensure your system is ready to face the hot days ahead. Following these suggestions, you may be able to avoid A/C problems and have a stress-free and climate controlled home all summer.