Does this sound familiar?. On the hottest day of the year, the air conditioner in your home begins blowing out warm air or stops operating entirely. Along with hundreds of other people in our community, you reach for the phone to call your HVAC specialist, and suffer with the heat until they arrive. Although some A/C problems will require a professional technician, here are a few tips that can be used to decrease the likeliness of this happening to you this summer.
Max-Out the Air Flow
A properly operating central air system must be able to pull the air through the unit, including recirculating air from within your home. If Air blockage or obstruction of any kind can result in trouble and repair costs. To assure you have the manufacturer suggested air flow, make sure to keep space around the vents - indoors and outside. This includes trimming back vegetation and cleaning dirt away from vents.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Beyond helping reduce energy costs by regulating your home’s temperature, programmable thermostats can also help minimize impact on your system. Adjust the temperature of your home to run less when you are at work or school, and automatically increase to a desired temperature when you are actually in the home.
Also, program your thermostat for longer run-cycles. We are not suggesting that this will prevent problems, it can help reduce humidity in your Hilton Head Island area home. This can provide a more comfortable environment, plus keep mold spores from developing in your home.
Watch Out for Those Pests
For some reason certain bugs and pests are attracted to air conditioning units, which can be detrimental if they get inside the system. To keep ants and other pests away, use an eco-friendly pesticide around the exterior of the unit with a reasonably wide perimeter of 24 – 36 inches.
Stay Level
The majority of outdoor A/C units rest on a concrete slab or other platform, permitting them a level base of operation. However, over time these can settle or sag, limiting the performance of the air conditioner. Check on your outdoor component to ensure that the base continues to stay level.
Naturally, regular maintenance, such as lubrication and filter changes, are also important to keep your air conditioner operating as it should. Call to schedule system maintenance review before the summer starts to ensure your system is ready to face the hot days ahead. Keeping these tips in mind, you may be able to decrease the chance of several common A/C problems and have a stress-free and climate controlled home all summer.