Upgrade the Thermostat
Do you manually adjust your thermostat whenever you’d like to cool your home? You might be inadvertently putting extra and unnecessary strain on your air conditioner. A smart thermostat can adjust the temperature throughout the day and optimize your cooling schedule, minimizing how often the system needs to run and reducing your energy consumption in the process.
You can reduce the wear and tear on your system even more by turning the thermostat up by just one or two degrees. It might not sound like much, but you’d be surprised at just how much you can save in the long run by learning how to be comfortable with a slightly higher indoor temperature.
Keep the Filters Clean
Keeping your air filters clean and changed on a regular basis is one of the easiest ways to keep your system running smoothly and reduce the overall wear and tear it sustains over time. The cleaner the air filter is, the easier it is for air to flow through it and cool the rest of your home. This means that the system is used less frequently, you and your family breathe cleaner air, and you pay less in utility bills each month.
In general, you should change the filters every 30 to 90 days, depending on the quality of your filters, whether individuals in your household have asthma and allergies, and whether or not you have pets. No matter your circumstances, we can almost guarantee that you’ll notice a difference by making filter changes a priority if you haven’t already done so.
Use Appliances Strategically
Did you know that the time at which you use the oven and dry your clothes can affect your air conditioner? If you use major appliances during the hottest hours of the day, your indoor temperature will rise much faster than it would if you were to use them in the early morning or late at night with the windows slightly cracked. One or two extra air conditioning cycles caused by doing your laundry in the afternoon might not sound so bad in theory, but in the long run, it could add up to hundreds of additional cycles that could be avoided.
Unplug Unnecessary Electronics
On a similar note, major electronics such as televisions and computers often give off enough heat to increase the ambient temperature by one or two degrees. If you can live without having them in standby mode, we recommend unplugging them entirely and planning to give yourself just a few extra moments to plug them in before use. It might sound minor and somewhat inconvenient at first, but the amount of energy you can save by unplugging major electronics when they aren’t in use can be significant.
Read one of our previous articles, 6 Ways You're Increasing Your Energy Bills, for additional ideas that can help you further reduce energy consumption in your home!
Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance
While we’ve listed this point last, it’s certainly not the least important thing you can do to improve your air conditioner’s lifespan. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to reduce your risk of a breakdown and paying for unexpected AC repairs!
We recommend scheduling annual AC maintenance before you plan to turn the system on for the first time each year, but you can certainly schedule it later in the season or whenever it’s convenient for you. Annual maintenance allows you to get ahead of small problems before they get worse and ensure that your system is working at peak efficiency when you’re ready to turn it on. In other words, investing in AC maintenance is an investment that pays dividends in both the short run and the long run.
Quality Air Experts provides a variety of HVAC services designed to help you make the most of your system and enjoy a cool, comfortable home throughout the year. If you would like to schedule a service appointment, just give us a call or book your appointment through our website!
