Air conditioning is a must for lots of homes during the sweaty summer months in Jacksonville. However, the operating costs associated with running an AC are substantial. Find out how routine air conditioning service can lower AC repair costs, and learn energy-saving habits to help your unit run more efficiently. With these tips, you’ll be able to appreciate a comfortable home this summer without emptying your wallet.
What Routine AC Service Involves
Air conditioning maintenance is an inexpensive, predictable yearly expense that pays you back by shrinking repair costs and lengthening your unit’s life span. Here are some significant maintenance steps that help protect against air conditioner breakdowns:
- Change the air filter: A dirty filter obstructs airflow and makes your air conditioner to work harder, using more energy and increasing the risk of overheating. Changing your air conditioner's dirty air filter with a clean one as part of your yearly maintenance service call, and every 30 to 90 days throughout the year, boosts ideal airflow and efficiency.
- Clean the evaporator coil: The indoor evaporator coil can become covered in dirt and dust over time, reducing its ability to absorb heat. This can cause the refrigerant inside of the coil to freeze, blocking your air conditioner from running effectively. Cleaning the coil takes away this insulating layer and helps the refrigerant to operate effectively.
- Clean the condenser coil: The outside condenser coil lets out 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 dramatically, reducing wear and tear on your air conditioner that could lead to breakdowns.
- Straighten the coils’ fins: The aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser coils can become bent, restricting airflow and reducing performance. Straightening the fins with a fin comb puts51 them to their original position to restore correct airflow.
- Lubricate moving parts: Friction in the motor and other moving elements creates heat and causes undue wear and tear. Routine lubrication reduces 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. A technician uses special tools to check and change refrigerant levels as needed to assure proper performance and prevent a mid-season breakdown.
Other Ways to Reduce AC Repair Costs
Once-a-year maintenance is a crucial factor in getting rid of avoidable AC repair charges, but here are some other ideas to help your air conditioner operate dependably all summer long:
- Turn the temperature up: Raising the temperature on the thermostat setting limits the wear and tear on your AC. Choose a comfortable temperature and avoid setting the thermostat any lower.
- Use a programmable thermostat: When set correctly, a programmable thermostat helps manage your home’s temperature in a more efficient manner, reducing the demand on your AC unit. An effective technique is to schedule setback periods of 7 to 10 degrees while you’re away or sleeping to save on energy costs and further diminish wear and tear.
- Seal air leaks: Gaps and cracks near windows and doors allow warm, humid air indoors. Use caulk and weatherstripping to avoid overworking your air conditioning equipment.
- Add insulation: A correct attic insulation level helps create reliable indoor temperatures and lessens your AC’s workload. If you can spot the attic floor or joists poking through the existing insulation, add more.
- Prevent solar heat gain: The sun’s heat warms your home, increasing cooling demand. Installing window coverings and pulling the blinds or shades during the hottest part of the day blocks solar heat gain and lowers the danger of a mid-season breakdown.
- Use ceiling fans: The wind chill effect provided by ceiling fans makes the room feel about 4 degrees cooler, which enables you to raise the thermostat setting without sacrificing comfort. Don’t forget to turn 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 North America, high humidity levels can easily make your home feel cool but clammy, motivating you to lower the temperature. A whole-house dehumidifier takes away unwanted moisture, giving your AC 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, always keep at least 80 percent of your registers open, and make sure no furniture, curtains or rugs unintentionally block airflow. Enhance circulation further by making sure doors between rooms are open as much as possible.
- Invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner: If your air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, think about upgrading to a more energy-efficient system. In addition to enhanced efficiency, a new system is also much less likely to break down or experience maintenance issues than an older unit, lowering your repair costs in the long run.
Schedule AC Service in Jacksonville
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. Air Engineers Service Experts offers quality air conditioning tune-ups to boost efficiency and lengthen your air conditioner’s life span. We can also upgrade your AC unit if yours is past its prime.