Air filter replacement and annual tune-ups are important, but not all forms of AC maintenance involve working directly with your air conditioner. Some entail focusing on parts of your home that seem unrelated. If you ignore these, your AC may have a hard time keeping up. We’ll look at a few tasks that can benefit your AC and influence the types of air conditioning services you might need.
Don’t Let the Sun Into Your Home
Sunlight is a major source of heat gain. If the sun shines directly through windows, it can heat the air your AC has cooled. This forces the unit to work harder. To prevent so much heat from entering your home:
- Close shades and blinds during the day
- Install solar screens outside windows
- Use lightly-colored window treatments
- Add awnings and other shading to east- and west-facing windows
- Invest in high-quality windows with low solar heat gain coefficients
Manage Your Landscaping
Trimming back vegetation is a good form of AC unit maintenance. Thick plants and shrubs can block the flow of air, straining the condenser unit and coil. To avoid trouble, cut back bushes and weeds at least three feet on each side. Plants not only block airflow; they can also drop debris onto the unit and attract pests. Also, keep an eye on nearby trees. Leaves, twigs, and branches can cause problems if they fall onto the condenser.
Seal Air Leaks
Windows are one of many possible sources of air leaks. Keeping them closed and locked on hot days can stop cool air from escaping your home. However, some air leaks come from small gaps around windows and doors. Caulking around windows can improve efficiency, while adding weatherstripping to doors also helps.
In addition, check for other leak points like holes in a kitchen ceiling, cracks in the basement, or crawl space vents that open into conditioned areas. Sealing leaks throughout your home can help your air conditioner run more smoothly. It can also reduce the number of issues found during your next AC tune-up.
Improve Insulation In Your Home
Warmer rooms, especially the attic, can overwork your air conditioner. Kneewalls, or the short walls in an attic, are often poorly insulated, allowing air to move through them. Insulating them with high-quality materials can reduce the temperature of surfaces and the air in your home. To achieve this, add sheathing to the attic side of kneewalls and insulate wall cavities.
Also, have your home insulation checked if it’s several decades old. It may be degrading or have spaces to fill. These issues can reduce efficiency but updating or repairing your insulation can save on energy costs. If you’re building a home addition, consider using high-quality house wrap on exterior walls before installing siding.
Make Your Home Less Pest-Friendly
Once your outdoor unit is switched off for the winter, rodents, snakes, and other animals may take shelter in it. Therefore, the following tasks should be part of your general home maintenance plan:
- Trim the grass around the unit to keep pests away.
- Secure all vent screens so critters can’t get into your ductwork.
- Place glue traps near entry points to stop pests in their tracks.
Run Ceiling Fans
Fans don’t cool the air but help you feel cooler by increasing air circulation. The movement of air over the skin provides evaporative cooling. You can feel just as cool after turning the AC up a few degrees. This can reduce energy usage, especially if you run the fan at a lower speed.
However, you don’t want to run too many fans. They add heat by turning electrical energy into mechanical energy. Therefore, only turn on ceiling fans in the rooms you use.
Limit Use of Heat-Producing Appliances
Your air conditioner is an appliance. So are ovens, toasters, other kitchen items, and your clothes washer/dryer. Using these during the day adds heat to your home. This causes your air conditioner to run more frequently. To reduce the load on your AC, use a microwave instead of a cooktop or limit the use of heat-producing appliances to the evening hours.
Relocate the Thermostat
The thermostat is technically part of your AC system. However, it doesn’t provide cooling on its own, yet its location matters. If it’s near a window or heat source, inaccurate readings can trigger your AC when it’s not required, increasing the need for more frequent AC maintenance. This can be avoided by moving the thermostat to a cooler location.
Replace Your Thermostat
Replacing a thermostat costs much less than replacing your HVAC system, even if you purchase a smart model. The latest units are programmable and can even adapt to your schedule, allowing your AC system to run more efficiently. They can also be controlled remotely. The temperature can be set using a mobile app or a voice assistant. Some models can detect whether you’re home or will arrive soon and make adjustments accordingly. The benefits of a smart thermostat can be reflected in your next AC tune-up.
Take Protective Measures When Remodeling Your Home
Remodeling projects can take a toll on your AC system. You can reduce the cost of AC maintenance after a remodel with the following tips:
- Cover vents to prevent dust and particles from entering ducts.
- Shut off your AC system while work is ongoing.
- Install plastic barriers between rooms.
- Perform cutting and sanding tasks outside.
- Dust, sweep, and vacuum your home daily.
- Use sanders, table saws, and other tools with dust collectors.
- Place sticky mats in rooms to capture dust.
Conclusion
Many tasks at home can help your air conditioner. From blocking sunlight to trimming vegetation to sealing air leaks and insulating your house, activities that don’t directly involve your AC can improve its performance and efficiency. How you use your thermostat and where you place it can also have benefits. But don’t delay servicing your AC unit. Follow this link to learn more about tips for AC maintenance that can save on repair and energy costs.
Schedule AC Maintenance with Monarch Home Services
Summers in California’s Central Valley can get quite hot. Our maintenance services, provided by NATE- and EPA-certified technicians, include routine inspections, adjustments, and minor repairs. When performing an AC tune-up, we cover every aspect of your system. To schedule annual AC unit maintenance in Fresno, Bakersfield, Merced, and other nearby areas, call (661) 215-6580 today.