Something that will greatly optimize the value of your home is adding to, or improving air conditioning. If you already have air conditioning, these tips will help you keep it maintained and improve any areas where air conditioning does not seem to be effective. If you do not have air conditioning, these tips might give you an idea of the best system for your home.
Air conditioning controls the temperature, purity, humidity and movement of the air in an enclosed space, regardless of conditions outside. If it is working well, it is worth the operating costs to enjoy clean, cool air in every room in the summer. If, however, it is getting old and dirty, it is probably time (or past time) for a little TLC. Here are some tips on how to help your home air conditioning service (or feel free to give us a call — we can help too.)
Improving Air Conditioning Tips
- Change your filters. Efficient air filters are the most important part of maintenance and changing them is not hard. If you suspect your filters are older than 1-3 months, they can be quickly and easily changed to improve the efficiency of your system.
- Check your air supply vents. Make sure they are all open. Clean any debris, dust, or webs from supply vent on the floor carefully. A vacuum works great. Air moving through your ducts can become restricted if too many air supply vents are closed or restricted. Make sure that floor vents are not covered up with anything like rugs, clothes, furniture, etc. A domino effect is created when any one of the major components, such as air flow, is suffering. Each working component of an air conditioning system directly affects the other elements in that system. Thus, reduced air flow results in less efficiency and hard worked components.
- Check the air flow. Turn your fan to “on” at your thermostat or run the system in cooling and check for air flow from each vent. Use a tissue held in front the vent for better confirmation. If you have vents in the ceiling, then attach the tissue to a broomstick. Works great to reach high places. Consistency may vary, but if no airflow is coming out, then there could be a potential air leak or a restriction somewhere in your ducts.
- Control your temperature. Having a programmable thermostat will help increase efficiency with specified run times and temperatures. If your thermostat is not programmable, then it is recommended during the heat of the summer, or cold of the winter, to set an efficient temperature and allow the system to maintain that temperature. Offsetting the temperature at night can be done manually to increase efficiency. Just keep the difference of the offset no more than 8 degrees. Don’t wait until you are too hot or too cold to run the system. This decreases the efficiency especially with heat pumps because the system must work harder to get up to a comfortable temperature. A good temperature set point range is between 73-78 degrees in the summer and 65-75 degrees in the winter. Find the comfortable temperature that works within these parameters and allow your system to maintain it. Maintaining your home or office temperature with consistency. Also, make sure that your thermostat is not exposed to direct sunlight or another heat source such as a lamp or electronics.
- Upgrading your thermostat. If you do not already have at least a basic digital thermostat installed, updating is recommended. Newer programmable thermostats do the work for you once they have been set up. They also have enhanced operating capabilities to help your system run more efficiently. Wi-Fi Programmable thermostats are also available for when you need to monitor and control your system remotely.
- Routine maintenance. Have your heating and air conditioning system serviced two times per year by a trained professional. Once for heating, once for cooling. This greatly helps prevent future problems and keeps your system running at its best. Maintaining your system is vital to its life expectancy and correct efficiency. A technician will look inside your system to check internal components that would usually go unnoticed or unchecked. Special tools are used to measure the operating parameters of each system component and the overall performance when performed by a trained professional.
- Close your blinds or curtains. Windows that are exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time will introduce an extra heat load into the conditioned space. Curtains also serve as an additional insulation barrier for windows in the cold winters.
- Air leakage. Check the seal around the outside doors and windows for drafts and seal degradation. Small holes that lead to the outdoors, attic, or under the home, even for electrical wiring or plumbing, should be sealed.
- Check your insulation. Check your attic and floor insulation. The recommended attic insulation thickness for our region is 16-18” from the bottom of the joist. Floor insulation should be inspected to ensure that no sections are sagging or have fallen out. Check that the insulation is properly secured.
- Reduce the heat load. Avoid using the oven, dryer, stove, or other heat producing appliance during the heat of the day. Heat producing appliances add heat to your home. Using these appliances in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler can help reduce extra unwanted heat when your air conditioning system is working to keep you cool during the heat of the day.
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