Home HVAC systems have contributed significantly to making our everyday lives much more pleasing.
But you shouldn’t make the mistake of taking your air conditioners cool, nice air for granted.
Unless you maintain it and use it properly, air-conditioners can leave you all by yourself in the sweltering heat. Or perhaps even worse, leave you poorer by several hundred dollars in the form of energy bills.
These risks are, however, minimized when you have an AC system whose performance remains top-notch mainly because you steer clear from making the following mistakes:
1. Not Changing AC Filters Regularly
If you are having trouble remembering the last time you checked your AC filters, then that is a clear red flag. When the filters in your AC remain dirty as a result, the coils become contaminated too.
During the coils’ exchange of heat, this dirt comes in the way and affects the cooling performance. Such dirt bottlenecks will not only cost you more in terms of energy bills but also reduce the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Go through the online resource filterbuy.com/resources/how-often-do-i-really-need-to-change-my-hvac-filter/. As a rule, change or clean AC filters at least once a month.
Plenty of people have an allergy to dust. In contrast, many others take their indoor air quality very, very seriously. In such a situation, you need to substitute that traditional fiberglass filter of your central AC.
Choose a filter that can eliminate all sorts of small particles found in environmental air like pollen, smoke, and of course, dust for this.
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2. Using Outdated HVAC Systems
In some of the older homes out there, it is not uncommon to find AC systems working for over 20 years. And while the age of an appliance does indeed decide the number and extent of repairs needed to keep it in working condition, there’s another thing you need to consider.
Older ACs consume way more AC than today’s models for the same amount of cooling effect. The best option open to owners of really old ACs is to seek advice from HVAC experts.
They are in the best position due to their specialized skills and extensive experience to say if the lifespan of your AC is near its end. They are best suited to determine whether a replacement would be a better long term financial decision for you.
3. Unsuitable HVAC Size
You need to consider your home’s size before you can buy a suitable HVAC unit for the same. The size of the AC you choose should suit your home. If the AC unit is too small, it won’t get rid of humidity and heat adequately, particularly in the summer heat.
If you choose too large a unit as your home AC, it will turn on and off with alarming frequency in all probability. This will serve to make you uncomfortable, besides wasting energy and money. So watch out for that too!
4. Are the AC Ducts Leaking?
If the ducts are leaking, there is a big chance that your AC has to work far harder. The leaks, most commonly air leaks, make the machine work harder for the same cooling amount, leading to energy wastage. Some experts opine that 35% of the furnace heat is lost due to leaking ducts.
To stop this loss of energy and, in turn, your money, make sure all of the HVAC ductwork is adequately sealed and insulated, resulting in minimal energy loss. This should serve to both boosts your AC performance as well as save you on energy bills.
5. Low Insulation of The Home
Another common thorn in HVAC units’ proper performance is when the homes themselves are poorly insulated and are drafty.
You need to balance the two aspects of sealing leaks and gaps while ensuring adequate insulation that will provide the air’s freshness indoors.
6. Changing Temperature Setting All Too Often
Properly setting thermostat temperature is one of the critical aspects of ensuring an HVAC unit’s maximum performance. If you want to save energy, you might consider buying a programmable thermostat.
These devices let you adjust the home temperature as per your day to day requirements. Thanks to this feature, you no longer have to change the temperature with your thermostat by yourself every day or even according to the time of the day.
Some common issues with the operation of HVAC units that we mention in this post can be addressed by you alone. In other cases, it would be far more judicious to seek expert help and then do the needful.
This will all together ensure that your house temperature remains perfect, and the energy bills are modest too. Let’s chill in the warmth!
