Two Ways To Increase Your AC Productivity
Does it feel like your home is consistently warmer despite increased electricity bills? If it seems like you are running your AC more often and push the thermostat lower but your rooms are still not cooling down like they should, you probably need to service your HVAC system. There are a million things that could go wrong within a central HVAC system. Before you call in a professional air conditioning technician, you could probably quickly walk around your house and check a few things. You might be able to instantly diagnose, and possibly even fix, your problem. Here are two things you can check right now without any special tools:
Checking the Furnace Filter
Start by checking your furnace filter. Some people don't realize that the furnace filter is actually closely associated with the air conditioning as well as the heating processes. The filter is located on the outside of the main furnace cabinet. It should be within a narrow slot, so you can just slide it out and look at it. You don't need any tools for this. If your filter is extremely dirty and caked in dust, you should change it immediately. This can't be one of the reasons for reduced airflow for both your AC and heating.
Check You Condenser Unit
Next, you should check your condenser unit. This is the appliance located on the outside of your property and it is the most important elements when it comes to producing cold air and drawing warm air out of your home. Obviously, you want to make sure the condenser is not covered. Surprisingly, many people will fire up their air conditioner without uncovering their condenser unit after a long winter.
While it is important to cover your condenser during the winter, you can do serious damage to your system if you try to run your AC while it is still covered. While you are checking the condenser, you should also make sure it is as clean as possible. The exterior walls, which are lined with coils, are vital when it comes to cooling down the unit. If these walls are dirty, your condenser will run at a higher temperature, and generally, use more electricity. You can easily clean your condenser by just spraying it down with a hose. Do this once a year and your condenser is bound to be more productive.
Quickly checking (and repairing if necessary) these three things can have a huge impact on the efficiency of your air conditioner.