Air conditioners are a household necessity during the hot summer season. Its main purpose is to keep the room it’s in at a comfortable cool temperature, but air conditioners tend to run into several problems, especially when you need them.
To ensure your AC provides reliable and efficient service throughout the years, there are some things you should regularly do. Not doing so could damage its performance and lower its overall lifespan.
Here are five tips that can help you make sure your AC stays in optimal condition.
Find the Right Unit Size
The first step to ensure your air conditioner works well and can cool your room whenever needed is to find a unit of the right size. If a unit has a rating for a small area, it’ll struggle to cool the air in larger spaces.
Not only will it have to work harder, consuming more energy, but it will also wear out more rapidly. Although it can be difficult to know which kind of air conditioner you need, it’s an important decision to get right.
Clean the Filters Regularly
Air filters in the air conditioner get dirty after being used for a while. If not cleaned regularly, they can get clogged with dust and dirt, likely causing several problems for the AC.
An easy way to tell if you need to clean out your filters is when your AC starts to make loud noises and fails to release the right amount of cold air. Cleaning your filters every three months should prevent this and keep the unit running smoothly.
Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean
Excess dirt and debris tend to accumulate around the outdoor unit, especially in windy seasons and in the summer. The outdoor unit plays a crucial role in your air conditioning system, so this can cause major issues.
Make it a habit to remove debris, including dirt, leaves, and branches. If you have trees nearby, keep the shrubs and branches away from the unit so they don’t disturb the flow of air and cause you to get an air conditioning repair.
Check the Vents for Any Blockages
Your air conditioner needs to be able to deliver cool air smoothly throughout the house. A blockage in the vents that prevents this continuous flow of air will damage the efficiency of your AC.
It’s important to regularly inspect your vents and eliminate any debris that could cause blockages. Even if you dust and vacuum regularly, there’s still a chance that the vents will get clogged.
Get an Annual Checkup
Lastly, the best way to keep your unit in optimal condition is to get it checked by a professional at least once or twice a year. Maintenance usually involves opening the unit to clean the parts inside thoroughly and determine if they’re working optimally.
This also ensures that any underlying problems are dealt with quickly, before they can cause major damage. If you’ve been using the AC for over 5 years, you might need to change the gas every few months as well.
