5 Ways to Improve Your Home’s AC Performance
Your air conditioning system consumes a majority of the electricity in your home, and also one of the most costly to repair. Besides regular maintenance, there are ways you can improve your AC’s performance to help reduce costs.
Let’s review five ways to improve your AC’s efficiency and performance:
1. Regularly clean and change the filter
Having dirty filters makes it harder for the AC system to operate appropriately and affects indoor air quality. Check and clean your filter regularly: if you live alone and with no pets, the air filter could last 6 to 12 months. However, if more people live with you or have pets, the filter should be changed every 60 days or less.
2. Keep your yard clean
Make sure nothing is blocking the AC unit on the outside. A rule of thumb is to maintain a distance of at least 2 feet between the AC unit and nearby obstructions, including plants, dense foliage, etc. The free space will maximize airflow and help with the efficiency of the AC unit.
3. Shade the condenser
Shading the condenser can increase efficiency by up to 10%, it will be easier for the AC unit to blow heat from the coolant even on the hottest days. We mentioned that you need to maintain a minimum of two feets free around the AC unit on the outside. However, building a small roof will not harm the unit; just make sure to respect the recommended distance.
4. Close doors and windows
It sounds obvious, but some people make the mistake of running their AC system with open windows or doors. Turn off the AC if you’re not in the room and don’t leave anything open.
Don’t fall into the mistake of buying a small unit for two rooms; you’ll only force the systems to work harder and create issues.
5. Stop messing with the thermostat
Constantly changing the thermostat won’t make your house warm or cool faster. Set it up or program it and stop touching it. Every time you adjust temperatures, the HVAC system has to cycle on and off more often and waste energy.
Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance
Aside from cleaning and the actions we mentioned above, don’t forget annual professional maintenance appointments. Make an appointment with Kay Heating and Air Conditioning to get assistance from our experts.
