The summers in Lincoln and Omaha areas are often quite hot and humid. Many residents will run their air conditioning regularly to ensure their home doesn’t get too hot. This means your electricity bills can be fairly high. Having a maintained, efficient system can help to reduce some of this cost.
Check the Air Filter Monthly
Experts recommend that you change or wash the air filter in your HVAC system about every 90 days. During the summer, this may need to happen more often. The more your AC system runs, the faster the filter will collect debris. The filters also clog faster because the air is full of pollen, shedding pet hair and other airborne particulates that are at high levels during the hot summer months. You can assess your own home’s filter needs if you check its condition every month. You can adjust the period between your home’s individual filter check window based on whether you find it regularly clean or consistently dirty. When you do perform filter changes, it’s a good idea to make note of when you put the new filter in or last washed your reusable filter.
Neglecting to replace or wash the air filter will eventually lead to the energy efficiency of your AC system decreasing. A dirty filter prevents the blower from drawing in sufficient air. That means the system will need to work much harder to push air through the system and deliver cold temperatures through your home.
Using an air filter that is rated higher than the system can handle will also cause premature wear on your air conditioner. It’s tempting to use the highest level air filter you can find. However, the small pore sizes of some of the filter meshes require a strong motor to pull air through. If you choose to change the type or MERV level of your air filters, work with your HVAC professional to ensure that you have a filter that works with the power level of your air conditioning unit.
If the air filter is too dirty, the evaporator coil may also freeze. The ice on the coil prevents an AC system from capturing heat. If the coil freezes, your only option is to shut your AC off and wait for the ice to melt. If you see a buildup of ice on your external unit, don’t leave your AC running. This will just cause more ice to build up and can also damage the compressor.
Keep the Area Around Your AC Condenser Clean
The AC condenser unit outside a house is often a magnet for leaves, sticks and debris. Leaves and airborne vegetation like the fluff from cottonwood trees and poplars can get stuck inside the grates on the sides of the AC unit. This then results in the sides getting clogged up, which prevents the condenser fan from creating sufficient airflow. If there isn’t proper airflow, your AC won’t work nearly as effectively since the lack of air moving through it makes it almost impossible for the heat it pulled out of your house to be released. The result is that the refrigerant never gets as cold as it should, which in turn prevents it from capturing as much heat from inside your house. There is also a risk that the compressor will end up overheating and causing your AC to shut down. Even worse, overheating creates a risk of the compressor and other components being damaged.
The best way to ensure that your AC condenser has proper airflow is to regularly clean around it and remove any debris. If debris is stuck to the sides of the unit, you may need to remove the panels or grates to clean everything. Another essential task is to regularly cut down any grass and weeds growing within two to three feet of the condenser. Similarly, you also want to make sure to keep tree branches and shrubs trimmed back from the unit.
Don’t Set the Temperature too Low
The more your AC runs over the summer, the more wear and tear it will experience and the shorter its lifespan will be. You can help your unit last longer if you keep your thermostat set at the warmest cool temperature that you can. Many people keep their air conditioning set at 70 degrees, but the fact is that you usually won’t notice much of a difference if you set it at 72 to 74 degrees instead. By doing so, you can reduce the strain on your AC system and also keep your electricity bills lower. If you have ceiling fans, it’s also a good idea to have them running. The breeze they produce will help cool you off. In the summer, you want the fans spinning counterclockwise so that they push air down and blow air on you. On cool evenings, you may be able to open your windows, run the fans and turn off your air conditioner.
Another important step is to make sure you program your thermostat to a higher temperature while you’re away at work. Although the US Department of Energy recommends turning the temperature up by 8 degrees while you’re away, many HVAC experts will tell you to only turn it up by 4-5 degrees. If you turn the temperature up too much, your AC may need to run for several hours straight to fully cool your home back down to your normal desired temperature. That means your home will feel too hot when you get home in the afternoon or evening and your AC may use more electricity overall.
Schedule an AC Tune-Up
The most important thing you can do is to have a certified HVAC technician maintain it every year. Ideally, you should schedule the annual tune-up sometime in the spring, but this can be done any time of year. Air conditioning systems have a variety of important maintenance tasks that need to be done regularly to continue cooling efficiently. Some of these tasks include cleaning the coils and blower, checking the refrigerant level and inspecting and testing most of the components. There may also be parts or connections that need to be tightened or components that require lubrication. Having a technician perform all of the necessary tasks every year is the best way to avoid costly repairs, keep your electricity bills lower and ensure your AC system lasts as long as possible.
Scheduling an AC tune-up gives you an opportunity to ask an expert about your air conditioner’s remaining lifespan. If you know that you will probably need to replace the unit within a few years, it gives you time to consider a more updated, efficient air conditioner and save the money to replace it. It also means that you can take advantage of sales or good financing offers when they show up.
If you are able to get a much more efficient air conditioner, you will see additional savings in future years on expensive electric bills.
For nearly 30 years, John Henry's Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electrical has been providing outstanding home comfort, plumbing and electrical services in Lincoln, Omaha and the surrounding areas. Our expert technicians are ready to handle your HVAC maintenance and repair needs, and you can count on our team for all of your other home service needs as well. Whether you need an AC tune-up or any other service, give us a call today to get the prompt, experienced help you need.
