No matter how many fans you run or how much lemonade you drink, nothing cools you off on a hot summer day quite like air conditioning. It’s no wonder that over 90 percent of homes and nearly all businesses in the U.S. use air conditioning to help beat the heat.
Still, many homeowners fall victim to some very common mistakes that leave them with higher utility bills, wasted energy, and systems that simply don’t last for as long as they should or could. So, to help ensure you’re getting the most out of your AC system, here are 6 common mistakes you’ll want to avoid.
Under or Over-Sizing – If you notice that your air conditioning system is constantly cycling on and off, it’s probably too big for your space. This makes it harder to maintain an even temperature throughout your home and makes the system ineffective at removing humidity. On the other hand, if your system never or rarely cycles off, it’s probably too small which means it’s working overtime. This not only wastes energy, but can greatly reduce your system’s expected lifespan.
Not Programming Your Thermostat – We all know that cooling an empty house wastes both energy and money, but no one wants to come home to an “oven”. By replacing one or more of your standard thermostats with programmable models, you’re able to raise or lower the temperature based on your schedule, day or night. You also can program your thermostats to keep your home at 78 degrees while you’re at work but a nice cool 72 by the time you get home.
Setting Your Thermostat Too Low – You may set your thermostat to 68 degrees out of habit, thinking that’s the ideal temp on a hot day. Chances are, however, you’d fee just as comfortable at 70 and save some energy dollars at the same time. In fact, for every degree you raise the temp, you can cut about 3 percent off your bill.
Not Using Ceiling Fans – Run your ceilings fans counter clockwise in conjunction with your AC system to help circulate cool air throughout your home and push that air down where you need it most. In the winter months, run fans in reverse to help circulate warm air and reduce your heating costs.
Neglecting the Filter – During cooling season, clean or replace your air conditioning filter every month or more often if it appears excessively clogged. A clean filter not only helps your air conditioning run more efficiently, but improves indoor air quality as well.
Not Calling a Professional – If your air conditioning system is making unusual noises or just isn’t keeping your home as cool as it once did, contact a trusted HVAC technician to diagnose and remedy the problem.
At Air Professionals, we are that “trusted professional” for thousands of home and business owners throughout Putnam, Westchester, Fairfield, and other area counties. Today, we invite you to contact us for a thorough cleaning and inspection of your AC system. With annual preventative maintenance, you can look forward to fewer repairs, lower energy costs, added safety, and a longer system lifespan. Air Professionals: the only heating and cooling company you’ll ever need.