5 Habits That are Harming the Health of Your AC System

When temperatures soar in Bradenton, Florida, you need a properly working air conditioner to keep you comfortable. If your AC system is struggling to cool your home, take a closer look at your usage habits before you contact a professional. The way you use your air conditioner can have a significant impact on its performance, efficiency and condition. Avoid these five habits:

Frequently Adjusting the Thermostat

The most difficult part of your AC system’s job is starting up and shutting down. If you’re constantly changing the temperature settings on your thermostat, your equipment will cycle on and off more frequently. As a result, your air conditioner will endure increased wear and tear.

One thing you can do to stop this habit is to install a programmable thermostat. You can program the thermostat to turn the temperature up or down at different times of the day or turn off the system when nobody is at home. By doing so, you can avoid having to fiddle with the thermostat and save on your energy bills.

Forgetting to Change the Air Filter

The air filter in your AC system serves the important function of cleaning the conditioned air that enters your living space. When it becomes dirty or clogged, it can restrict airflow and cause your air conditioner to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Besides driving up your utility bills, the additional strain also makes your equipment more vulnerable to mechanical problems and reduces its longevity.

It’s essential that you change your air filter on a regular basis. Taking the weather conditions in Bradenton into consideration, replace your filter once a month in spring and summer and once every three months in winter. If you have pets in your home, change your filter more often.

Closing the Registers

Many homeowners close the registers in certain parts of their homes, thinking that it’ll help them save energy. However, this isn’t true. Your AC system is designed to cool a specific amount of indoor space. Closing the registers will reduce the amount of space your air conditioner needs to cool, making it behave like it’s improperly sized. This can result in a variety of problems, such as:

• Longer run times.
• A frozen evaporator coil.
• Higher utility bills.
• Shorter lifespan.

You can adjust the registers to control temperatures in different areas of your home, but you shouldn’t close them completely. Also, make sure your furniture isn’t blocking the air that comes out of the registers.

Doing Repairs Yourself

Even if you’re an experienced DIY enthusiast, you shouldn’t try to repair your AC system yourself unless you’ve completed specialized training. If your air conditioner is experiencing mechanical issues, hire an HVAC service technician to inspect and repair it. If you decide to repair it yourself, you may make a mistake that aggravates the problem or cause damage to other components in the system. Also, do-it-yourself repair can void your manufacturer’s warranty.

You have to know exactly which HVAC maintenance tasks or repairs you can do yourself and which tasks you should leave to a service technician. Replacing the air filter and cleaning the area around the outdoor unit are examples of maintenance tasks that don’t require expert knowledge and skills. Call an HVAC professional if you need to clean or repair ducts, fix refrigerant leaks or repair malfunctioning components.

Not Signing Up for Preventative Maintenance

Many homeowners try to save money by forgoing preventative AC maintenance. While it can add to your expenses, preventative maintenance will more than make up for its cost in the long run by reducing your energy bills and extending the service life of your system. Besides routine maintenance, it also includes a thorough inspection of your equipment. The service technician will detect existing and potential problems and fix them before they develop into major issues that require costly repairs.

Knowing how to properly use and maintain your AC system can improve comfort in your home. It can also lower your energy costs, minimize costly repairs and make your equipment last longer. If you’re looking for a reputable HVAC contractor to solve your air conditioning problems, contact All American Heating & Cooling at (941) 451-5228 today. We provide high-quality HVAC services at affordable prices.

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