Air Conditioning Tips
In south Florida we realize that air conditioners are indispensable for most of us for close to 12 months a year. If the air conditioner goes down it can be unbearable, so here are some air conditioner tips to help you avoid that situation.
- Make sure you change the filter regularly. Depending on the traffic in your home and whether or not you have pets, that is anything from 1 to 3 months. Check it every month to make sure. I recommend stocking up so you have a filter on hand. You can get a good deal online.
- Have it serviced once or twice a year by a professional. It may seem like an unnecessary expense but there are companies who will do this very inexpensively. They will clean the condensation drain (very important)., lubricate the belts, check the pressures and the coil. This will also help you avoid having a flood from a blocked drain.
- If you have plants growing around your outside unit, make sure you keep them pruned back about 2 feet so that air flow is not reduced.
- Check the fins on the outside unit to make sure they are not clogged with dead leaves or debris . If so, turn the unit off and clean them carefully with a brush, vacuum or hose, taking care not to bend them.
- You can make it last longer (and save money) by not working it so hard. 2 or 3 degrees can make a significant difference in how hard it has to work. Turn it up to 78 degrees when you are not home. Using a ceiling fan will also make you feel cooler and you won’t have to set it so cold.
- Check your duct work. It’s amazing how often I find cold air blowing into the attic because a join in the ducts has come loose.
I hope that these air conditioning tips help keep you cool all year round!
