Air conditioning is crucial for lots of homes during the sweaty summer months in Memphis. However, the costs associated with running an AC are substantial. Find how routine air conditioning service can lower AC repair costs, and take up energy-saving habits to help your unit run more efficiently. With these tips, you’ll have a comfortable home this summer without breaking the bank.
What Routine AC Service Entails
Air conditioning maintenance is a reasonably priced, predictable yearly cost that pays you back by lowering repair costs and lengthening your unit’s life span. Here are some critical maintenance steps that help prevent air conditioner breakdowns:
- Replace the air filter: A dirty filter restricts airflow and makes your air conditioner to work harder, using more energy and increasing the risk of overheating. Replacing your air conditioner's dirty air filter with a clean one as part of your regularly scheduled maintenance appointment, and every 30 to 90 days throughout the year, promotes excellent airflow and efficiency.
- Clean the evaporator coil: The interior evaporator coil collects dirt and dust over time, limiting its ability to absorb heat. This can cause the refrigerant inside of the coil to freeze, blocking your air conditioner from working correctly. Cleaning the coil takes away this insulating layer and will make it easier for the refrigerant to perform this essential function.
- Clean the condenser coil: The exterior condenser coil emits heat taken in by the refrigerant. If it’s covered with cobwebs, grass clippings and other debris, the heat transfer process is weakened. Cleaning the condenser coil boosts the unit’s efficiency significantly, reducing wear and tear on your air conditioner that could bring on breakdowns.
- Straighten the coils’ fins: The aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser coils can become bent, cutting down on the airflow and negatively affecting your air conditioner's performance. Fixing the fins with a fin comb returns51 them to their original position to restore proper airflow.
- Lubricate moving parts: Friction in the motor and other moving elements generates heat and causes unnecessary wear and tear. Consistent lubrication diminishes friction, ensuring smooth operation and decreasing the need for repairs.
- Monitor refrigerant levels: A low refrigerant charge is another answer for why your AC can freeze up, causing longer run times, comfort problems and avoidable AC repairs. An HVAC professional uses specific tools to check and modify refrigerant levels as needed to verify proper operation and prevent a mid-season breakdown.
Other Ways to Reduce AC Repair Costs
Yearly maintenance is an important factor in reducing AC repair costs, but here are some other recommendations to help your air conditioning unit operate reliably all summer long:
- Turn the temperature up: Raising the temperature on the thermostat setting reduces the wear and tear on your air conditioner. Find a comfortable temperature and avoid setting the thermostat any lower.
- Use a programmable thermostat: When set correctly, a programmable thermostat helps manage your home’s temperature more effectively, reducing the strain on your AC unit. Remember to set setback periods of 7 to 10 degrees while you’re away or sleeping to help save on energy costs and further alleviate wear and tear.
- Seal air leaks: Gaps and cracks around the edges of windows and doors let warm, humid air inside. Try using caulk and weatherstripping to avoid overburdening your air conditioning unit.
- Put in additional insulation: A proper attic insulation level helps create stable indoor temperatures and lessens your AC’s workload. If you can see the attic floor or joists poking through the existing insulation, add more.
- Block solar heat gain: The sun’s heat warms your home, increasing the workload of your air conditioner. Installing window coverings and drawing the blinds or shades during the hottest times of the day blocks solar heat gain and lowers the danger of a mid-season breakdown.
- Use ceiling fans: The wind chill effect provided by ceiling fans makes your room feel about 4 degrees cooler, which allows you to raise the thermostat setting without sacrificing comfort. It’s a good idea to turn the fan off when you leave the room, as fans cool people, not spaces.
- Use a dehumidifier: For those who reside in a humid part of the United States, elevated humidity levels might make your home feel cool but clammy, encouraging you to lower the temperature on your thermostat. A whole-house dehumidifier eliminates excess moisture, giving your AC a much-needed break.
- Make sure your vents are not obstructed123: Closed or blocked air vents throw off the balance of return and supply air, which may cause your AC to break down. To avoid this, keep at least 80 percent of your registers open, and make sure no furniture, curtains or rugs inadvertently obstruct airflow. Improve circulation further by making sure doors between rooms are open as much as possible.
- Install an energy-efficient air conditioner: If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, think about upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. In addition to increased efficiency, a new system is also less likely to break down or have maintenance issues than an older unit, lowering your repair expenses in the long run.
Schedule Air Conditioning Repair in Memphis
By investing in scheduled air conditioning maintenance and adopting other recommended home-cooling habits, you’ll enjoy a comfortable interior with lower repair costs this summer. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offers skilled air conditioning tune-ups to optimize efficiency and prolong your air conditioner’s life span. We can also upgrade your AC unit if yours is getting up there in age.