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As we get into the warmer parts of the year, it’s a great time to ensure that your AC will perform at its best. For some households, their AC costs can take up over half of their energy costs during the summer season! In this blog, we’ll explain how you can keep your air conditioning in great shape as summer comes around!
Know the Warning Signs
Most of the time your AC should be able to function as normal. However, problems will occasionally come up. As a homeowner, it’s important to recognize the warning signs that a problem is coming up. Once you know there is an issue with your unit, you can start doing something about it!
Increasing Costs
One of our top recommendations for homeowners to implement is to keep track of their monthly energy costs and consumption. This should be fairly steady throughout the year. If you notice a big jump in costs, there is a definite problem.
Increased costs could be a sign of a leak in your air ducts or an electrical issue within the unit.
Cycling Too Much
Cycling is when your AC turns on and off. The best way to preserve energy is for your unit to cycle for about 20 minutes. You don’t want your system to continuously turn on and off. Your system uses the most energy during its initial start up. If the system is constantly turning off and on, you will be much less efficient!
Since your system is designed to be efficient, too much cycling is a definitive sign that something is up and you may need an HVAC technician’s help.
Noises and Smells
Your air conditioner should never have a strange smell or make weird noises. It may seem obvious to some, but some people don’t realize it could be their AC! This definitely requires an expert to come take a look.
Increase Your Efficiency
Now that you know the warning signs that something is wrong with your system, you’ll know when you need maintenance or repair. However, even if your AC isn’t broken, you still might not be operating at peak efficiency! These are some ways you can boost your air conditioner's efficiency!
Clean
We assume you do a great job of keeping your home clean, but homeowners often forget to clean their AC unit and their vents! It’s a simple enough task and the savings are definitely worth it! Make sure there isn’t any debris near the outdoor unit to prevent overheating. Your indoor vents can fill with dust and dirt, which not only hampers efficiency, but it also can harm your indoor air quality!
Be Smart with Your Thermostat
Your thermostat just turns your AC on and off, but it can have a huge impact on your energy bill. A smart thermostat is a simple guaranteed way to increase efficiency. The system will make sure you aren’t wasting money by cooling at suboptimal times of the day. However, you’ll still have control over it should you need to adjust it manually. Additionally, many smart thermostats can communicate with your smartphone allowing you even more control than a typical system!
Overall, remember the simple fact that air conditioning will be a major cost for you during the summer months! If you can limit your expenditures, you can still enjoy the cool air conditioning and take care of your finances. Implementing these tips and scheduling regular maintenance is the best way to increase efficiency and save your hard-earned cash!
The experts at Earnhardt Heating and Cooling are here to help with regularly scheduled AC maintenance and AC replacement. To schedule an appointment, call (336) 814-2613.