5 AC Mistakes Every Homeowner Makes

Are you making any of these mistakes with your air conditioning unit? Keep reading to make sure you’re doing everything right.

1. Skipping Routine Maintenance

Many homeowners try to avoid maintenance on their HVAC unit until something is actually broken or malfunctioning. However, this can lead to a number of other issues for your unit and its ability to regulate your home’s temperature.

To make sure your HVAC unit is working in tip-top shape you should get seasonal maintenance, usually in the months leading up to winter and summer. This way, the technicians can discover any issues your unit could have before the temperatures drop or rise drastically.

2. Not Switching the Filters

Replacing the air filters in your HVAC unit is a necessary step in the units maintenance routine. Clean filters ensure that your unit is working properly and efficiently, that the air being pushed into your home is clean, and that your energy bills are low.

How often you need to change your filters depends on a few factors including:

• Whether anyone in your household smokes. If someone in your home smokes, we would recommend you switch out your air filters more frequently than every six months.

• If you have pets and how many you have. We all love our pets, but unfortunately, their fur and dander can cause chaos in our lungs, which is why it’s essential that if you do have pets, you should change your air filters every two months.

• If someone in your home has allergies or asthma, those who already have respiratory difficulties, no matter how severe, are even more impacted by the quality of your indoor air. For those with this sensitivity, change out air filters every six weeks.

• The ages of your residents. Air quality is even more important for homes with kids, especially babies whose immune systems haven’t fully developed. In households with children, change your air filter every 2-3 months.

Aside from the health benefits of switching out your air filters frequently, this task will also ensure that your HVAC unit is working at full efficiency which means your unit won’t have to work as hard to push out clean air. The easier it is for your unit to function, the less likely it is that it will break down prematurely. Additionally, a well functioning unit costs less money to run, and you’ll save money on unnecessary repairs.

3. Not Clearing Debris

You might not think much about the outdoor HVAC unit, especially if it seems to be producing cool air with no problems. But, it’s important to remember that the unit must be kept clear of debris. This means that you shouldn’t plant anything within at least 3 feet of the unit. This will keep dirt, leaves, and other particles from entering the unit and negatively impacting its efficiency.

4. Neglecting the Coils

Your HVAC unit has two different kinds of coils inside of it. These coils are the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. These are what help to keep your home cool by absorbing heat from the inside of your home in order to lower the overall temperature. In order for them to function correctly, they must be taken care of and kept clean.

If even a fine layer of dust is left on the coils, it reduces your unit's efficiency. This is because this dust acts as an insulator and it doesn’t allow the coils to absorb as much heat so your unit will have to run longer to lower your home’s temperature, which increases your energy bills.

5. Broken Ductwork

As a rule of thumb, you should have your ductwork cleaned and inspected every two years. This will help to control dust and allergen buildup, and it will ensure that everything is functioning as it should be.

Broken ductwork might not seem like a significant issue, but it does mean that not as much air is being pushed through your ducts and into the rooms where it is supposed to go. Some of this air is leaking out which means your HVAC unit has to run longer to push out the same amount of air.

For all of your air conditioning, heating, and air quality questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at 5 Star Plumbing, Heating & Air. Call today or visit our website for more information!