Air conditioning units aren’t cheap. A high-quality unit can easily run hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Texas summers are nothing to joke about, and air conditioning units are essential for comfortable summers. If you have a new A/C unit, or just want to make the most out of the one you already have, here are 4 ways to make your AC last longer in the RGV.
Don’t Neglect Maintenance
It seems like there is annual maintenance for almost everything. Gutters need cleaned, windows need to be sealed, siding needs inspected, and yes your A/C needs to be maintained also. It’s tempting to skip out on this maintenance for your A/C, but doing so could shorten its lifespan.
Your AC technician can spot problems before they become big ones, and fine-tune your air conditioner to work at optimum condition. A clean, smooth-running unit won’t have to work nearly as hard to perform and will last longer thanks to good care.
Replace Air Filters
Air filters are what helps keep your A/C clean and running smoothly. A dirty air filter is harder for your A/C to push air through, which means the engine has to work that much harder to stay running. Being forced to work harder means more wear and tear, and more opportunities for something to go wrong.
Keep up with cleaning and replacing your air filters, and the A/C will last that much longer thanks to good care.
Keep all vents open
If you’re not using your office space or other room, it hardly makes sense to leave the vent open, right? Yet it turns out that closing off supply or return vents is actually harmful to your air conditioning unit. A closed vent can lead to pressure building up as the air has fewer points to escape.
This means more work for your engine as it struggles to push air through the vents, but it can also damage the vents themselves. The pressure from the air can cause leaks in the ducts. Those leaks can then cause long term wear and tear on the engine, which now has to work harder and more often to cool the house due to cool air escaping prematurely.
Use a smart thermostat
When you’re not at home, turning the A/C off to save money is a practical way to lower your energy bills. When you get home, however, your first reaction is usually to crank that A/C back up so you can get cool air as soon as possible.
Sudden switches between temperatures are actually very difficult for your A/C to manage, however, and can result in your unit giving out prematurely. The solution isn’t to leave your air conditioning on all the time, but to get the best of both worlds and use a smart thermostat. You can set the thermostat to gradually turn the A/C back up over time so that your house is cool by the time you get home, and the unit wasn’t strained in the effort to do so.
Together, these tips can go a long way to helping you get the most out of your unit, and to help beat those hot Texas days for as long as possible.
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