If there’s one goal for most people to meet this summer in South Florida, it’s having your air conditioner run without any issues developing. After all, there’s nothing worse than having it break down on the hottest day of the year, leaving you sizzling and sweaty.
So, what can you do? Rather than end up miserable and overheated, you can choose to incorporate any of these ten things into your AC maintenance routine which will help your system run reliably and accurately all summer long.
1) Change the Air Filter
The air filter on your air conditioner or Florida HVAC unit plays a bigger role than you’d think. When your AC is running, the air is filtered through there (hence the name), keeping particulate matter and other contaminants out. When these things end up in your air conditioner, they can cause mechanical problems. Thankfully, changing the air filter is fairly easy, and doing so once a month or more, depending on your allergies and pets, will keep your AC in good condition throughout the summer.
2) Get the Coils Cleaned
The coils within your air conditioner play a key role in keeping it running smoothly. The air goes through them, is cooled, and then is dispersed throughout the house. Having dirty coils in your air conditioner can prevent it from running efficiently. Depending on the type of air conditioning unit you have, the coils could be either outside or inside of the machine, which can make them hard to reach. Thankfully, you can have an HVAC company come in and manage this important task for you.
3) Keep an Eye on Your Thermostat
Yes, you want to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, but not at the risk of damaging your HVAC unit. Your air conditioner is a machine, much like all of the other appliances in your home. If you don’t run them in a moderate way and instead choose something more extreme, they’ll wear out quickly. The same is true for your AC unit. If you’re constantly adjusting the indoor temperatures to those that are more extreme in an effort to cool your home down faster, you may be putting extreme wear and tear on your unit. As a result, your AC might break down midway through the summer. Instead, set those temperatures moderately.
4) Take Advantage of the Shade
Having shade trees on one or more sides of your home makes your indoor temperatures automatically cooler. The trees provide some shade, cooling down the nearby rooms of your home. This is beneficial because you won’t have to run the air conditioner as much, as those spaces will be comfortable. By doing this, you’re helping your AC unit, as not running it constantly will save on wear and tear. Plus, you get to spend time outside in the naturally provided shade, which is always a good thing.
5) Use Ceiling Fans
Another method of keeping the inside of your home cool is using ceiling fans, which are designed to keep the warm air near the ceiling and away from the lower parts of the room where you sit. In addition, they spread air around the space, cooling it down pretty effectively. This means that you can give your air conditioner a break, and set it at a higher temperature. In order for this to be very effective, you should consider installing a ceiling fan in any room where it seems like a reasonable option. This includes bedrooms, home offices, living rooms, family rooms, and dining rooms. Keeping all of them running at once won’t use up a lot of electricity, and it will ensure that the spaces remain at a reasonable temperature.
6) Make Sure Your Windows are Properly Sealed
When your Pompano Beach condo windows aren’t properly sealed, you’re letting all of your cold air leak out through them. This will make your air conditioner run constantly in order to keep your home at your desired temperature. Like all mechanical devices, when an air conditioner constantly runs, it’s likely to have a shorter lifespan. By ensuring that your windows are closed all the way, you won’t have to worry about this.
7) Turn Up the Temperature
Speaking of temperatures, the cooler you want it to be inside of your home, the harder you’re making your AC unit run. Not only will this make your air conditioner more likely to break down, as it causes the parts that move inside of it to work harder, but it will greatly shorten the lifespan of the system. As a result, you could end up with a broken air conditioner on the hottest day of the year. What you should be doing is setting your thermostat to a reasonable temperature and keeping it there, rather than letting the temp fluctuate.
8) Have Routine Maintenance Performed
A little routine AC maintenance can go a long way. Like every other mechanical item in your home, you need to take care of it. You keep it clean, have it checked regularly for parts that are breaking down, and more. You need to do the same with your air conditioner. It’s important to have an HVAC company come out once a year, before the beginning of summer and very hot weather, in order to have your system serviced. This will be much cheaper in the long run, as a properly maintained AC system will usually last you for a long time and won’t break down when you need it the most.
9) Remove Debris and Plants from Around the Air Conditioning Unit
The area around your air conditioner needs to be kept clean and free of debris. Whether you have a mini-split that’s indoors or a whole house system that’s outside, you still need to ensure that the space is clean. This means dusting regularly, hosing down the outdoor machine before the season begins, and even ensuring that the space is free of potential hazards like overhanging rose bush branches or any other type of plants.
10) Choose a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are designed to figure out what your heating and cooling habits are and then program themselves accordingly. Many of these thermostats have eco settings as well, which you can utilize in order to save money on your electric bill. By allowing the smart thermostat to detect your needs, turning up the temperature, and lowering it as necessary, your AC unit won’t have to go through the extremes that make it run harder.
Do You Need to Have Your AC Unit Maintained?
If you’re worried about keeping your AC unit happy, healthy, and running all summer long, call Natal Air Conditioning Services in Pompano Beach today at (954) 788-0099 to make an appointment with our experts. We’re the one-stop shop for all your AC needs!
