It’s no secret that we’re dealing with an especially warm summer this year. If you’ve been outside at all, you already know that temperatures are stifling. This means your air conditioner is going under a lot of stress to do its job, right? If you had maintenance done this past spring, you don’t likely have much to worry about. Maintenance helps your air conditioner work as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible–especially if you keep up on any repair recommendations we make during this service.
Having a great air conditioner installed is also a good step in keeping your home cool. This means working with a professional to ensure your home is properly matched with the right air conditioner and a correctly sized air conditioner as well. Too big of an AC can be just as detrimental to your comfort and the system itself as too small of one.
So when you’ve got professional installation and professional maintenance under your belt, there’s nothing more you can do, right? Wrong! There are plenty of additional steps you can take to make sure your household stays cool this summer–potentially even cooler than you thought possible. Read on to learn more!
Change Your Air Filter Regularly!
Do you know about the air filter that comes standard with your HVAC system? We hope you do! Even portable and window units have air filters. They block any dirt, dust, and other debris from entering the air conditioner (or heater) as it draws in air from your home. Naturally, this means that over time the air filters get clogged. When they get too clogged up, they restrict airflow.
When airflow is restricted, your air conditioner can’t draw in enough air from your home… which means the rest of your system can’t do its job properly either. The coils won’t have enough heat to absorb and as a result, the air coming out of your vents won’t be as powerful and it will be harder for your system to reach the desired temperature set on your thermostat. So, you won’t feel as cool as you should!
There aren’t many maintenance tasks that we would recommend homeowners do on their own. But changing the air filter absolutely is one of those things you should be taking care of every 1-3 months, depending on the type of air filter you have and the level of debris in your home (keep in mind, if you have pets, pet hair accounts for a lot of this debris).
Check That Vents Are Unobstructed
Feel like your living room is warmer than the rest of the house, despite how diligently you run the air conditioner? It could be that you have furniture set too close to the vents–particularly if you have floor vents. Remember, heat rises! So if a floor vent is blocked and can’t get the cool air distributed through the room, then you’re for sure going to feel warmer in that room.
One way to resolve this is to consider investing in a ductless system. Ductless systems have independent air handlers that can be wall-mounted, ground-mounted, or even ceiling-mounted depending on the setup of your property. This gives you more freedom with furniture placement and is a fantastic option if you have a smaller home.
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment for professional Waterloo air conditioning service, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.