Most people assume that air conditioners are made to last the same amount of time. Unluckily, this isn’t the case. Many factors play a significant role in the longevity of your system. This includes the installation process and the manufacturer’s reputation.
Your AC plays a significant role in keeping you and your family comfortable all year round. That’s why you should do all it takes to ensure it’s running as long as possible. So how can you improve the life expectancy of your AC? Here are tips that provide you make the most out of your AC.
Work With a Qualified Company
Working with a qualified, certified, and experienced technician plays an essential role in improving your air conditioner’s longevity. A professional technician will ensure your unit is installed properly. That’s why it’s in your best interest to ensure that you only work with a qualified cooling company that can help you choose the right unit and professionally conduct the installation process.
Give Your AC a Rest
When you continuously run your air conditioner, it tends to wear out quickly. It’s in your best interest to always ensure you turn off your AC if you’re planning on leaving your home for a certain period. The AC can be left on a warmer setting if you have pets at home that you need to keep safe from hot temperatures.
Another technique to give rest to your AC is by turning the thermostat down by a minimum of 5 degrees. This allows your air conditioner to stay on without cooling the air.
Both of these things will help you prolong the lifespan of your AC. Your AC will tend to last longer when it doesn’t work 24/7 without a break.
Clean Your AC on a Regular Basis
Even with professional installation, your air conditioner still needs regular cleaning. Just from being outside, your outdoor unit can get dirty. Cleaning the dirt, leaves, and other debris from your unit helps your system work optimally with minimum mechanical breakdown chances.
Get Regular AC Tune-Ups
When it comes to increasing the lifespan of your unit, regularly scheduling tune-ups is essential. Standard maintenance service is a sure way of keeping your unit in excellent shape. You’ll also have the opportunity of detecting problems and preventing them before it’s too late.
The best time to consider maintenance services is during the spring season, just before you start using your unit frequently as the summer months approaches. A professional technician can inspect your system inside out, clean it, and fix potential problems that the unit might be having. Indeed, preventive maintenance is one of the best ways of extending the life of your unit.
Allow Air to Circulate
One of the main functions of your AC is to pump cold air into your home. Therefore, it requires proper airflow for it to function efficiently. To do that, you’ll have to clear all obstructions from the vents in your home.
Allowing air to circulate makes it easy for your unit to maintain the cool environment in your home, and it also improves the unit’s longevity.
Clean the Ducts
In most cases, air ducts influence the temperature levels in your home. If you have dirty air ducts, it will affect how air flows into your home. Over time, debris and dirt accumulate inside your ducts, making it difficult for air to pass through.
When you do regular air duct cleaning, it will help improve your indoor air quality since air will have free passage in and out of your unit. This, in turn, extends your unit’s lifespan because the system won’t have to work as hard to cool the environment.
Change the Filter
Frequently changing your unit’s filters plays a significant role in preventing it from getting clogged. That’s not all. Replacing your filters improves your unit’s overall efficiency, saves you money, and, most importantly, extends your unit’s lifespan.
This is because most cooling systems break down due to dirty air filters. Accumulation of dirt makes it difficult for air to pass through, thus taxing the equipment. With time, this can cause the system to overheat.
Clogged filters push your unit over the edge, leading to costly repairs. Once your filters become clogged, it makes your air conditioner overrun, thus causing additional wear and tear. That’s why you should always pay close attention to the air filters in your air conditioner. Ensure you change your filter at least each month.
Check for Leaks
Note that leaks in the hose can cause the unit to have many complications that may lead to a breakdown. Therefore, you should always check your unit for leaks at least once a year. Doing this reduces the chances of your system breaking down, increasing its lifespan.
A great way of checking for leaks in your system is by hiring trustworthy technicians who can conduct a thorough inspection to ensure your air conditioner functions properly.
Check the Coil Fins and the Fluid Levels
Checking the fluid levels and your coil fins’ condition should always be part of the inspection process. If your system lacks appropriate fluid levels, it can strain your machine, thus shortening your air conditioner’s lifespan.
Coil fins need occasional inspections too. Since they’re delicate, they can easily bend out of shape, thus blocking the airflow. This can reduce the lifespan of your system.
Use Programmable Thermostats
Another great way of easing the workload on your AC is by using energy-saving thermostat settings. This is especially useful when you’re away from home for vacation or work. After all, there’s no reason for your unit to be running so much when you’re away from home. Programming your thermostat to only run when you’re home can help extend its lifespan.
Programmable thermostats also help improve your system’s energy efficiency. By setting the thermostat to cool and heat your home on a specific schedule, you’ll reduce your utility bills while maintaining an efficient, comfortable environment while increasing the longevity of your air conditioner. However, you’ll have to learn how to realize your unit’s efficiency by setting the thermostat maximally.
Although a traditional thermostat can manually regulate your system’s heating and cooling, using a programmable thermostat presents a more accurate and detailed level of comfort that benefits you and your family for a long time.
Rely on the Experts
Gallagher's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning takes great pride in having qualified NATE-certified technicians whom you can trust with all of your heating, plumbing, or air conditioning needs. Our technicians are licensed and factory-trained, so you can rest assured knowing that we’ll serve you and get the job done on our first visit.
We always strive to deliver five-star services and build a long-lasting relationship with our customers. We aim to keep your unit clean, safe, efficient, and running smoothly. Regardless of the make, model, or complexity of your issue, Gallagher's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning has a team of professionals that can handle it appropriately.
Contact Gallagher's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning today to learn more about how you can take care of your air conditioner and receive our top-notch services.
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