Out of all the seasons of the year, the summer is the time when you appreciate your air conditioner the most. During July, August, and September, your AC works harder than ever to cool your home. And this is exactly why you might need an air conditioning service in Tampa. Before your system fails from the pressure, follow a few simple tips to improve your system’s efficiency.
Get Your Service Call Before the Heat Index Rises
It might be too late for you to follow this tip this year but keep it in mind for future summers. If you wait for the summer to service your AC, your system won’t be ready for the heat.
You can prevent serious issues by calling a specialist for your air conditioning in Tampa. When experienced technician performs service, they look for performance issues. With a little lube or a quick cleaning, your air conditioner could be better than ever.
Clean Your Outdoor Units
For your AC to properly function, there needs to be space around your exterior units. Piles of debris, leaves, and shrubs block the airflow and make your system work overtime to cool your home. Why put the extra strain on a system that’s already suffering?
The next time you go outside, look around your exterior condenser unit. Are there any objects or vegetation blocking the unit? If so, pull out your gardening gloves and get to work. Cut back any tall grass and shrubs and pull up invasive weeds. By doing so, you create better airflow for your air conditioner and thereby increase its efficiency.
Get New Insulation
If you have an older home, your insulation may not be up to par. Unfortunately, this means that the cool air from your home can escape to the outside. Once again, your HVAC needs to work more to overcome this issue.
You can work with a professional to find the best insulation for your property. Once the right insulation is installed, you won’t need to worry about escaping air. As an added benefit, your home will stay warmer in the winter.
Keep in mind that you may need to insulate more than just your walls. If you have exposed ductwork in your garage or utility room, you should insulate it. Otherwise, the cool air warms up before your AC can do its job.
Use Ceiling Fans
It’s a misconception that using a ceiling fan and an air conditioner is a waste of money. When you look at the energy cost of running a fan, you can see that it doesn’t do much to contribute to your energy bills. Using ceiling fans could make your overall cooling costs lower.
Ceiling fans move the air around and keep your entire home cooler. If you don’t already have ceiling fans in the various rooms of your home, consider installing them. At the very least, use floor fans.
Clear Space Around Your Vents
If you have furniture and other objects blocking your vents, air won’t get around your home. All of the hard work done by your AC will be for nothing because the air has nowhere to go.
Before you run your AC, check the indoor vents. Move furniture away from the vents and look for dust or debris. If necessary, vacuum out your vents.
Use a Smart Thermostat
How often are you home? Even if you have a large family, there are probably hours at a time when no one is inside your home. During those times, your AC is running cold for no reason. Programmable thermostats try to address that issue, but you may not be on a regular schedule. That’s why it’s useful to have a smart thermostat.
A smart thermostat is intuitive and can tell when you’re home. If no one is around, the thermostat rises to an acceptable level. When you’re back home, it drops to your ideal temperature. You can also adjust the thermostat from your phone, which is both convenient and energy-saving.
The cost of a smart thermostat isn’t much, and installation is easy. Because the cost of buying and installing a new thermostat is so low, you can make back your money in only a few months of major energy savings.
Close Blinds and Curtains
As much as you love the sun shining into your home, your habit of leaving the curtains open could hurt your AC. The sun’s radiation goes directly into your home and keeps the temperature high.
If you don’t want this to be an issue, keep your blinds and curtains closed. Even more importantly, don’t keep your windows and doors open. Doing so allows the cold air to escape.
Use LED Bulbs
Did you know that your light bulbs could be making your home warmer? If you use old incandescent light bulbs, they put off heat. LEDs have a much lower heat output and won’t force your air conditioner to work extra.
Don’t Use Appliances During the Day
This tip is a tall order, but it will take the stress off your air conditioner. During the day, avoid using driers, ovens, and other appliances. They produce heat and warm up your home.
If you use these appliances before the sun comes up or after it goes down, you won’t be fighting your AC. Once you get on a schedule, you might find it easier to follow this tip.
Call Our Air Conditioning Service in Tampa for Help
When you call us at Comfort All-Stars, you get professional help for your air conditioner. This means that you can be certain your system is performing at peak efficiency. You’ll save money on your energy bills and extend the life of your AC.
Our team is ready to answer your questions about AC efficiency. But more importantly, we’re ready to provide you with regular maintenance. If you have a maintenance contract with us, you can rest easy knowing your air conditioner is taken care of. To learn more or get started, call us now.
