4 Tips on Taking Care of Your AC Unit

 

Residential AC repair can be largely avoided if the resident will take care of the maintenance and upkeep properly. Although air conditioning services don’t have to be incredibly pricey, it can add up if you are having to call out the local AC repair man ever other week to fix some other problem. Having said that, if you do have a problem then you definitely want to make sure that you are calling a professional to take a look at what’s wrong because a DIY job could end up making your system worse. Now that the disclaimer is out, here’s what you can do to avoid yet another residential AC repair.

1. Change the Filters
   You’d be surprised at how many people don’t even check the filters, much less change them. Air conditioners don’t only blow out clean air, but they suck in the dirty air. All of the dust and dirt that comes into your house gets sucked in by the filters and if they are not changed a number of things can take place. First of all, all of that dust and potential allergens will settle back into your house and build up. Also, your air conditioning system will begin to malfunction as it tries to work in overtime and not be able to put out cold air after awhile. Changing the filters is very important to keeping the system running properly and efficiently. You can even purchase high efficiency filters now that are not to expensive. Filters should be replaced at least every three months but make sure you are checking them monthly. If you have a pet, you may need to replace them more often than that.




2. Service the System
   You do want to make sure you call in a residential AC repairman at least twice a year to do a regular servicing and tune up of your air conditioner and heater. Think of it like a dentist appointment. It is recommended that you see a dentist every six months so that you are acquiring any cavities or gum disease or other problems, the dentist can catch it early on and you won’t have to go through very much in order to get it treated. Your AC system is no different. The best times to call in the residential AC repairman to service your unit is right after summer and right after winter. These are the two seasons where the unit is used the most so making sure that everything is still up to par and there are no issues gets you ready for the next heavy use season.




3. Keep it Clear
   If your unit is in the ceiling like in a condo or apartment then you don’t have to worry about this one because there’s no other space up there besides for the unit itself. However, if you live in a house and the unit is kept in a closet or a cupboard, avoid keeping anything else in that closet. It can be tempting as we are all always looking for more storage space but it can be a fire hazard as well as just plain not good for the unit. Make sure that the unit has some breathing space. It shouldn’t be jammed up against a wall or anything else. It needs room to function and work effectively. Respect the air conditioning unit, it does a lot for you.




4. Don’t Overwork it
   Try not to lower the temperature to much. Air conditioners can actually freeze over if they are left to low for to long. 74 degrees is a reasonable temperature when you are home and 78 when you are not. This way the unit gets a little break while you are not using it without allowing the home to entirely heat up. On cooler days, try turning off the unit all together and open the windows and doors. This will save you money on your bill as well as length the life span of your unit, avoiding more resident AC repair.

Following these four tips could save you a world of trouble from residential AC repair to having to get a whole new unit all together. They are not difficult to keep up with so it won’t cause a heavy load on you.