With the upsurge of heat during summer, most households resort to installing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. As much as consumers want to push comfort in their homes, air conditioners (AC) should not be compromised up to its limits.

While seasons, including summer where the heat goes in flux, are happening in repeating patterns, it is very practical to have air conditioning systems that would be durable for a long period of time. With proper handling and maintenance, your AC’s efficiency is secured, and its lifespan could last from 12 to 15 years.

It is not only your family’s comfort that you want to prolong but also the very thing that brings ease to your loved ones. Some tips might be helpful to make your AC a worthy investment.

Tips On How To Extend AC Lifespan In Texas

AC Familiarity

To take proper care of your air conditioning unit, you must first have good, if not, enough knowledge as to what parts of your AC need the most cleaning and monitoring. While we are admittedly not AC maintenance experts, it’s still an advantage to know the parts of our unit. A typical unit usually operates with a two-part or a split system which usually includes the outdoor unit, evaporator coil, a series of pipes, refrigerant, ducts, and a thermostat. Of course, not all of the mentioned parts are within reach of do-it-yourself (DIY) maintenance. However, we should be most familiar with some of the components.

The outdoor unit is where the condenser coil, compressor, electrical components, and fan are located. This part is the most exposed and is therefore most vulnerable to debris, dirt, and other materials clogging the system.

The duct, which serves as air tunnels, contains air filters and is usually adjacent to vents. This component is also susceptible to blockage and needs regular checking and cleaning. Failing to do so could result to higher energy usage of the whole unit and a higher chance of the machine wearing out.

In addition, a typical AC unit has a thermostat which is used as a control system to set the customer’s desired temperature and air dynamics. While there are conventional thermostats, there is always an option for programmable thermostat upgrade and installation.

Unblocked yet Shielded

Air conditioners provide households cool air to which our family breathes, so it only makes sense that we maintain its own cleanliness. Make sure that the outdoor component of the unit is not baffled with unnecessary mulch and debris. As much as possible, the outdoor unit should lay flat and relatively placed upper than the ground to avoid water from pooling in the bottom. In addition, planting shrubs or trees around the outdoor units is highly encouraged as it will shield the equipment from direct sunlight and therefore keep your unit cool and energy-efficient.

Clean and Clear

If dirt could never have a room in your home, make sure it doesn’t in your air conditioning units. It is only right to keep your air filters clear and clean by changing them regularly, about once a month. This same idea goes as well with vents in each of your rooms. You may brush or shake the filters and even use a vacuum cleaner for a thorough clean. If you have one, it is very advisable to use the vacuum cleaner’s dusting brush head. Another tip is that, if the filters are all dirty and mucky, washing with warm water and a mild detergent is considered, as long as you rinse the filters clean and assure that they are dry before you put them back to the unit. Keeping air filters and vents unblocked not only extends the life of your AC but also keeps your family healthy.

While we want to experience the best indoor kind of life, we should not go beyond limits by experimenting and mismatching components and functions. Humidifiers must go. One of the air conditioner’s job is to reduce indoor humidity. Using humidifiers goes into conflict with this certain function and will cause the AC to take up more energy to keep up.

Monitored and Maintained

Keeping your home cool takes up a significant amount of energy. So to avoid wasting many sources to provide your household needs, it is a must to monitor your AC usage. Installing programmable thermostats will let you specify the temperature needed based on the date and time. This demand-side management feature will keep your AC running only when necessary and save energy for future use.

While there are DIY tips on taking care of your air conditioners, it is still suggested to have your ACs regularly inspected. This will keep your AC in optimal and efficient condition, as well as potential problems detected and addressed early before resulting in expensive repairs.

Saved Energy and Cool Air

After being a responsible air conditioner owners, doing all the unit maintenance tips, customers might think that they’ve saved 12 to 15 years of buying a replacement AC unit. This is not wrong, but there is more to it: not only that we’ve expanded the AC’s lifespan, but we’ve also saved energy, helped maintain clean and cool air and avoided crucial repairs.

Most ACs use electricity to function. So while this machine does its best to cool your home, keeping it covered with dust and other dirt would waste a significant amount of energy to function.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, indoor cooling, along with other activities, uses up 25 to 40 percent of energy. This wastage might increase if heating and cooling systems are kept unclean. Though these systems do have air filters, dirt and other materials can still accumulate and cause the machine to work harder and thus using a larger amount of energy.

While it is understood that one function of air conditioners is to provide cleaner air, doing a regular clean up and monitoring of your unit ensures this function and delivers quality indoor air to your family.

Having air conditioning systems installed in our homes is a very practical investment, so is the refined execution of proper AC handling and maintenance. While we might be all grown up to do it on our own, it would be a relief to have trusted professionals as helpful guides. After all, our homes only deserve the best.

For fast, reliable AC & Heating repair, service, installation, or sales, contact the professionals at 1^st Class Heat & Air. We offer after-hours AC repair and can provide help for AC compressor failure seven days per week. Call us today at 972-673-0408 .