Air conditioning is a must for lots of homes during the sweltering summer months in Columbus. However, the costs associated with running an AC are substantial. Find out how regular air conditioning service can minimize AC repair costs, and take up energy-saving habits to help your unit run more efficiently. With these tips, you’ll have a comfortable home this summer without draining your bank account.
What Routine AC Service Involves
Air conditioning maintenance is an inexpensive, predictable yearly cost that pays you back by decreasing repair costs and extending your unit’s life span. Here are some vital maintenance steps that help avoid air conditioner breakdowns:
- Swap out the air filter: A dirty filter slows down airflow and causes your air conditioner to work harder, using more energy and increasing the risk of overheating. Exchanging your air conditioner's dirty air filter with a clean one as part of your regularly scheduled maintenance appointment, and every 30 to 90 days throughout the year, encourages ideal airflow and efficiency.
- Clean the evaporator coil: The indoor evaporator coil accumulates dirt and dust over time, lowering its ability to absorb heat. This can cause the refrigerant in the coil to freeze, blocking your air conditioner from working correctly. Cleaning the coil removes this insulating layer and will help the refrigerant to do its job.
- Clean the condenser coil: The exterior condenser coil releases heat absorbed by the refrigerant. If it’s blocked by cobwebs, grass clippings and other debris, the heat transfer process is reduced. Cleaning the condenser coil increases the unit’s performance greatly, reducing wear and tear on your air conditioner that could result in breakdowns.
- Straighten the coils’ fins: The aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser coils can become bent, restricting airflow and negatively affecting your air conditioner's performance. Straightening the fins with a fin comb puts51 them to their original position to restore ideal airflow.
- Lubricate moving parts: Friction in the motor and other moving components produces heat and causes excessive wear and tear. Scheduled lubrication diminishes friction, ensuring smooth operation and cutting down on the need for repairs.
- Monitor refrigerant levels: A low refrigerant charge is another answer for why your AC can freeze up, producing longer run times, comfort problems and unnecessary AC repairs. An HVAC professional uses special tools to investigate and modify refrigerant levels as needed to verify proper performance and prevent a mid-season breakdown.
Other Ways to Reduce AC Repair Costs
Once-a-year maintenance is an important factor in lessening AC repair charges, but here are some other tips to help your air conditioner operate reliably all summer long:
- Turn the temperature up: Increasing the thermostat setting reduces the wear and tear on your AC. Choose a comfortable temperature and avoid lowering the temperature.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat: When set correctly, a programmable thermostat helps control your home’s temperature in a more efficient manner, reducing the pressure on your AC unit. An effective technique is to set setback periods of 7 to 10 degrees while you’re away or sleeping to save yourself on energy costs and further diminish wear and tear.
- Seal air leaks: Gaps and cracks around the edges of windows and doors let warm, humid air into your home. Use caulk and weatherstripping to avoid overloading your air conditioner.
- Put in additional insulation: A proper attic insulation level promotes consistent indoor temperatures and reduces your AC’s workload. If you can spot the attic floor or joists poking through the existing insulation, add more.
- Block solar heat gain: The sun’s heat warms your home, increasing the workload of your air conditioner. Installing window coverings and pulling the blinds or shades during the hot afternoon blocks solar heat gain and lowers the chance of a mid-season breakdown.
- Run ceiling fans: The wind chill effect produced by ceiling fans makes a room feel about 4 degrees cooler, allowing you to raise the thermostat setting without sacrificing comfort. Don’t forget to shut the fan off when you leave the room, as fans cool people, not spaces.
- Use a dehumidifier: For those who live in a humid part of the country, increased humidity levels can make your home feel cool but clammy, encouraging you to lower the temperature on your thermostat. A whole-house dehumidifier takes away unwanted moisture, giving your air conditioner a much-needed break.
- Clean your vents123: Closed or blocked air vents throw off the balance of return and supply air, which might cause your AC to break down. To avoid this, keep at least 80 percent of your registers open, and make sure no furniture, curtains or rugs inadvertently hinder airflow. Boost circulation further by opening the doors between the rooms in your home as much as possible.
- Install an energy-efficient air conditioner: If your air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient system. In addition to increased efficiency, a new system is also less likely to break down or encounter maintenance issues than an older unit, bringing down your repair bills in the long run.
Schedule Air Conditioning Repair in Columbus
By investing in regular air conditioning maintenance and adopting other recommended home-cooling habits, you’ll enjoy a comfortable interior with reduced repair costs this summer. Stevenson Service Experts offers top-notch AC tune-ups to optimize efficiency and lengthen your air conditioner’s life span. We can also upgrade your AC unit if yours is starting to have problems.