5 AC Maintenance Tips to Increase the Performance of Your Air Conditioner

Keeping your air conditioning running efficiently isn’t just a matter of comfort. It can prove to be a matter of health and safety.

In San Bernadine, for example, the average temperature in July and August is around 96 degrees Fahrenheit. With the temperature that high outside, interior temperatures can reach dangerous temperatures.

Air conditioning also helps control humidity. Humidity control helps prevent mold and mildew growth. Limiting mold and mildew growth protects your respiratory health.

So, here are five AC maintenance tips that will help keep your unit running smoothly.

1. Change Your Air Filters

Your HVAC system comes equipped with air filters to capture dust, pet hair, and other contaminants. These filters prevent those contaminants from interfering with your system’s operation.

Over time, those filters get dirty or clog up. A dirty air filter can often cause icing on your air conditioning unit, which pushes the unit harder than necessary. Changing out your filters once a month can help prevent this problem.

2. Clear Away Plants and Bushes

Your air conditioning unit needs freely flowing air to function correctly. As bushes, flower beds, grass, or weeds grow around the unit, they obstruct the airflow. Again, this pushes the unit harder than necessary.

Clear away any plant life you find growing near the unit. It ensures the unit gets enough air. That ensures a more efficient unit for your home.

3. Check the Drain Line

Your air conditioning unit needs to drain excess moisture from the condenser. This drain line can clog from algae growth.

You do some preventative maintenance by flushing the line from time to time with a small amount of bleach. One cup will usually do the trick.

If algae or mold has mostly plugged the line, a basic wet/dry vacuum cleaner can typically suck away the obstruction.

4. Get a Programmable Thermostat

Many people leave their air conditioning turned on all day, cooling an empty house or apartment. Others simply forget about adjusting the thermostat on their way out the door. This shortens the working life of the air conditioning unit and costs you money.

A programmable thermostat removes the human element. You simply program the thermostat for the temperatures you want at different times of the day. You save money and extend the efficient working life of the unit.

5. Schedule Professional Maintenance

A lot of things you can’t necessarily see may go wrong with an air conditioning unit. A professional technician can check these things, including:

• Electrical components
• Mechanical components
• Coolant levels
• Duct integrity

Calling a pro in once or twice a year ensures that your air conditioner stays efficient for as long as possible.

Parting Thoughts on AC Maintenance Tips

AC maintenance plays a crucial role in improving your air conditioning unit’s performance. Good DIY maintenance helps ensure proper airflow and drainage. A programmable thermostat makes sure you don’t run the unit more than necessary.

Professional maintenance lets you know that the electrical and mechanical components still work correctly.