Did you know that air conditioners tend to lose some of their efficiency as they age? But when you keep up with regular maintenance and use your unit wisely, you can help your air conditioner maintain higher levels of efficiency, both now and in the future.
We have some tips for boosting AC efficiency this summer so that your energy bills are lower. The same tips will help to lessen the wear on your unit over its lifespan so that you have a better chance of maintaining strong energy efficiency for years to come. When you do notice problems with your air conditioner, give us a call to schedule service for air conditioning in Beaverton.
Prevent Water Leaks
One great way to ensure energy efficiency for your air conditioner is to clean out the condensate drain line regularly. The condensate drain line is where humidity gathers and drains outside of your home. If clogs develop and moisture backs up, the water can re-evaporate into the air and increase humidity levels.
High humidity can make your home feel warmer than it really is. No matter how hard your air conditioning works to cool your home, it will never feel as cool as you want thanks to the extra humidity. Preventing leaks is a simple as rinsing the condensate drain line out with half a cup of vinegar once each month.
Prioritize Good Airflow
You can also do a lot to ensure that your air conditioner has excellent airflow from start to finish. This begins with the air filter located inside of your home. This is the single intake area for air entering your AC system. Make sure that you keep this filter clean by changing it in a timely manner. You can check on your air filter to see if it is rated to last for a single month or three months and then set reminder so you don’t forget to change it out.
It’s equally important to pay attention to the outdoor unit where heat gets expelled as part of the cooling process. Unfortunately, the outdoor unit gets clogged very easily with dust and dirt. Once each month, you can go outside and gently rinse it off using a hose on low water pressure to help keep dirt from blocking airflow. If heat cannot escape outside, it gets trapped in your home, ultimately leading to your air conditioner working harder.
Use Reasonable Settings
It’s also up to you to use reasonable settings for your air conditioner. The general recommendation is that you set your thermostat no lower than 78°F for cooling during the summer months. Thankfully, we have fairly mild summers compared to some of the southernmost states. Still, it is important to be cognizant of your settings so that you don’t accidentally add strain to your air conditioner without realizing it.
Please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!