Get Your HVAC Summer-Ready

In India a lot of households turn their ACs on only during summers. So it becomes absolutely necessary to check if your system is perfect and running just the way it should. And now is the time to do a few checks in order to avoid any technical issues during the summers and beat the heat. Every homeowner would like to save on his or her electric bills this summer. Learning the rules to central air conditioning system care and what habits to avoid will all contribute to less energy consumption per month. DO’s * Proper Air Conditioning Maintenance Not only can relearning ways to efficiently use your AC save you money on monthly electricity bills, it can increase the longevity of the unit; reducing the likelihood of having to replace it with another costly unit down the line. Taking the necessary steps to protect your HVAC appliances, especially the air conditioner, can dramatically reduce the chances of appliance failures and breakdowns. This is another area where money could be saved. Here are some items to check off your list for air conditioning maintenance in your home as we get into the hot and humid summer months. * Check the Thermostat A properly functioning and calibrated thermostat is vital when it comes to efficient home air conditioning usage. Be sure to invest in a quality digital thermostat. These models rarely break. If your thermostat is broken, your air conditioning will not function correctly, or at all. This is an item that should be inspected pre-season, every year during your annual central air conditioning tune up. Also, avoid leaving the thermostat setting on all the time. If you wish, you can set your thermostat to the FAN ON position to constantly clean and circulate air through-out the home and help cool hard to condition areas, or rooms, especially on a second floor. Don’t have your thermostat set on the coolest setting. This is a frequent mistake made by homeowners. Keep your indoor temperature settings at efficient levels to acquire the right amount of cooling in your home. * Routine Cleaning for AC Units Before every warm season begins, have your air conditioning system cleaned and restored by a certified professional HVAC technician. This can be a DIY job for homeowners that are experienced in handy work; however, it is recommended to have a professional HVAC technician accomplish this task for you. They retain the industry knowledge, experience, and equipment to get the job done right. Filters, panel doors, condenser coils, and more are all areas that require routine cleaning to promote a healthier indoor air quality and accurate unit performance for your home. A dirty system can reduce the indoor air quality, causing allergies, respiratory irritations, and other minor health implications. This can lead to costly medical and pharmacy bills. * Use blinds and curtains to help regulate the temperatures of rooms in your home Don’t leave windows open all the time. Open windows, particularly during the spring, can have a negative effect on your indoor air quality. That’s because pollutants, allergens, dust and more are able to enter your home unfiltered and settle on your surfaces. An alternative easy-fix is to invest in quality curtains and blinds. Open them when it feels colder in a room or close them if it is getting too hot. * Maintain Refrigerant Levels Do have your system serviced annually, not only to have it cleaned but to also have your refrigerant levels checked. Improper refrigerant charge will damage the compressor, which is basically the heart if the air conditioner. Without the compressor working, you have no air conditioning in hot weather. Before the compressor breaks down, you might notice that electricity bills will be high and the unit’s efficiency levels will be low. * Seal your heating/cooling ducts and any open spaces, such as doors and windows. The less cool air that escapes your home, the less energy you’ll waste. DON’TS? * Allow weeds and other obstructions around the outside AC condensing unit. * Let insect and birds build nests in the outside unit and make sure sticks and leaves are not building up on top and around the unit preventing air flow. * Permit the outside unit to be off-level * Let the inside air filter to get dirty – replace throw away filters on a monthly basis and clean permanent filters on a regular schedule. * Tamper with air conditioning refrigerant lines or electrical connections- this can be a dangerous situation and should ALWAYS be handled by a certified fully trained HVAC technician.