Fall is arriving this week, and it signals the coming end of air conditioning season here in the Seacoast region.
But until the cool weather arrives, follow these tips to take good care of your air conditioning. These tips can help the A/C run at its peak efficiency, lower your energy costs, and help to prevent expensive breakdowns and repairs.
With this hotter than normal summer and you being home more of the time, your home’s air conditioning may have been running 24/7 this summer. Now is the time to make some adjustments so the A/C isn’t working as hard. These two ideas will do just that without sacrificing comfort:
Reprogram your thermostat. By adjusting the desired temperature to 78˚ instead of 74˚, the air conditioning will not turn on as frequently, but you won’t notice much of a difference in terms of your comfort. Don’t have a programmable thermostat? We install them! Programmable thermostats can help you save big bucks on your cooling and heating costs.
Use your ceiling fans. Circulating the air may be enough to keep the room cool and prevent the air conditioning from turning on as frequently.
Air filters need to be changed every three months at the least. So if you put a fresh one in before turning on the A/C for the summer, you’re making the air conditioning system work harder, and letting dust, dirt, and pollen into the system that could potentially damage it. If you have pets or if someone in your home has allergies, asthma, or respiratory conditions like COPD, you need to check the air filter once a month and change as needed.
This is a great time to schedule your annual air conditioning tune-up. After all the work the A/C did this summer, the P. Gagnon & Son service technicians will give your air conditioning system a thorough inspection and tune-up so it will be ready to go next spring. And if your air conditioning system is getting on in years, we can also let you know when the time is coming to replace it.
Over the summer, grass clippings, branches and twigs, leaves, and other debris may have accumulated on or around the A/C outdoor unit. Those all impede air flow, making the system work harder, and can potentially damage it. Clear anything off the unit and create a clear space around it.
Get in touch with us to schedule your air conditioning tune-up today!