
Is Your Air Conditioner Ready for Summer?
That is an important question to ask yourself before those hot summer days arrive. Don’t wait until you get a surprise on your power bill or you come home to a house that isn’t cool… make sure now that it will be ready when you need it. Here are a few ways to keep your HVAC system running as efficiently as possible this summer:
Make sure you have a HVAC professional service your system regularly; once per year is preferred. Also, ask them to clean the con- densing coils.
Operate the cooling equipment AC unit and to save money, operate it on a “conservative” temperature setting. We recommend keeping your thermostat on 78 degrees F during the summer months. You should set it at an even higher temperature for the times when you are away from home.
Allow for air flow around the out- door unit. Your AC depends on large quantities of flowing air inorder to operate properly. Provide at least two (2) feet of clearance on all sides and five (5) feet at the top of the unit for proper ventilation. Check to see if your unit is clear of all bushes or grasses, leaves and other debris.
Change the filters regularly; once per month during peak usage. Dirty filters can restrict the air flow through your system, reduce effi- ciency and lead to other problems.
Do not close off areas of your home unless there is a “return vent” in that area. The system must be able to circulate air completely.
Make sure your cooling equipment is the right size for the area. Units that are too large can cycle “on” and “off” and sometimes do not run long enough to remove moisture from the air, resulting in high humidity levels inside the home, which affects comfort as well.
By following these simple tips, you can help improve the overall effi- ciency of your AC system and hope- fully lower your cooling cost this summer.
For more information on how to make your home more energy efficient. For more information call Aladdin Insulation for a free energy audit of your home.