Air Conditioning Tips & Tricks You Must Know!

Thanks to global warming, household air conditioning has become ubiquitous. When temperatures soar, your air conditioning system comes to your rescue and helps maintain your indoor air quality and comfort.

How you maintain and use your air conditioning system has a major impact on its performance and longevity. Here are some tricks to get the most out of your system.

Reduce Heat Gain

The hotter your home, the harder your air conditioning system will have to work. An overworked AC draws more energy. To address this problem, come up with a plan to keep the sun and heat out.

Shade windows with exterior blinds. Use efficient lighting and ENERGY STAR appliances. Installing awnings on west-and south-facing windows can help reduce heat gain by up to 77 percent. Use a high-reflectivity window (mirror-like) films.

Plant trees and climbing vines around your home. Do not use appliances that produce heat when your AC unit is in operation. Typical examples include laptop, television, and oven. Consider using your microwave instead of the oven for cooking.

Clean AC Vents and Keep Them Clear

Vacuum dust and debris away from indoor supply vents. A clean and unclogged supply vent will help maintain a steady airflow. Make sure items such as furniture, toys, and blinds are not blocking the vents.

Set Your Thermostat as High as Comfortably Possible 

Did you know that for every degree of extra cooling you set below 78 degrees F, your energy consumption increases by 8 percent? To cut cooling costs, consider setting your thermostat at least 7-10 degrees F higher when you leave the house. If you do not mind sleeping in a warm room at night, consider raising your thermostat to a warmer setting.

Clean AC Heating Coils

The indoor coil is constantly wetted during the cooling season, it is susceptible to dirt build-up. Dirt build-up on the indoor coil is one of the most common causes of poor air conditioning efficiency. To steer clear of the issue, inspect and clean both indoor and outdoor AC coils regularly.

Stay On Top of Maintenance

The importance of periodic maintenance cannot be emphasized enough. Have your system inspected and maintained by your contractor once a year. Do not skip maintenance even if you believe everything is alright. Remember, some problems are hard to detect and can go unnoticed for days or even weeks.

During maintenance sessions, your AC contractor will:

• Inspect and repair electrical components
• Clean evaporator and condenser coils
• Check refrigerant levels, and top off, if required
• Clean the condensate drain
• Inspect and lubricate moving parts

Is your air conditioning system cooling rooms unevenly? South Placer Heating and Air can help. We are one of the most reliable air conditioning companies in Roseville. No matter how complex your problem, we will come up with a sustainable and cost-effective solution. To get answers to your heating and cooling questions, call us at (916) 246-2089.