Household Changes to Get the Most From Your A/C

Mature man taking out a dirty air filter from a home ceiling air return vent. Male removing a dirty air filter with both hands in a house from a HVAC ceiling air vent.

Like most people, you probably know various energy conservation habits to get the most from your A/C units for the least amount of money. Making these important changes to your house can help to maximize efficiency. Let’s go over a few household changes that are guaranteed to help you get the most from your a/c unit.

Preventative Maintenance on Your Units

Preventative maintenance is not as hard as it might sound. First, it is important that you regularly change out your air filters, as the dirt and dust buildup can cause blockage, preventing proper airflow. Next, your HVAC equipment needs a tune-up about twice a year. Most contractors are completely booked during the summer and winter months. For this reason, it is recommended that you schedule a tune-up for both heating and cooling around daylight savings time in the spring and fall.

Other preventative maintenance includes regularly checking the thermostat settings to ensure that the temperature is programmed correctly for the time of day. Also, making sure that electrical connections are properly tightened and that the voltage/current are at proper levels. If your voltage is low it can cause an unsafe running environment for your unit as well as significantly reduce its lifespan. Finally, it is a good idea to regularly check the condensate drain in your central A/C, furnace, and/or heat pump when they are in cooling mode. It’s important that the condensate drain is clear to keep water damage from happening to the house.

Heating and Cooling Ducts

It is difficult to replace or repair heating and cooling ducts in a home, because of how they are hidden in walls and attic space. However, you can dramatically increase the performance of your A/C if you’re able to identify any leaks and seal them with foil tape. Of the ducts that you can access and seal, once repaired, make sure to reinsulate them well. Finally, to help get the most out of your A/C unit, make sure that all of the connection points for the ducts are well sealed where they meet the floors and walls.

Air Sealing and Insulation

As far as the house itself, it is beneficial to identify air leaks. Once you identify these leaks, you should seal them in order to put a stop them. Moreover, make sure your attic and walls are well insulated. It is not difficult to insulate your home by yourself. If you are interested, there are several DIY guides offered by organizations like Energy Star.

Upgrades

Finally, in order to get the most from your A/C, you should make upgrades to your units when necessary. For example, there are smart thermostats that can be programmed to adjust their temperature settings depending on the time of day. These thermostats are great for ensuring that your home is comfortable when you wake up, saving power and money when you are away, and comfortable once again when you return.

You don’t have to be an A/C expert in order to maximize your unit’s capabilities and efficiency. By simply applying some of these tips to your home or daily life, you help you a comfortable environment for the lowest possible cost. To schedule maintenance on your a/c unit, contact Great Dane today.

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