Unexpected breakdowns of any kind can really throw a wrench in your plans. The good news is, you can prevent surprise air conditioning breakdowns simply by taking care of your unit. While professional maintenance is important, the key to taking care of your unit lies in monthly homeowner maintenance.
When you do need Lafayette AC repair, Our team will be here to help and get your air conditioner back working again as quickly as possible with little interruption. You can keep reading to learn more about ways that you can take care of your air conditioner to make sure that you stay ahead of air conditioning repairs and even potentially prevent them altogether.
Practice Moderation
One of the best ways you can take care of your air conditioner is by not pushing it too hard. Do you want your home to be cool in the summer, but setting the thermostat too low can put a lot of strain on your air conditioner. It’s only rated to cool your home around 20° below the outdoor temperature on any given day. On particularly hot days, your standard thermostat settings may be too low.
Experts recommend that you set your thermostat no lower than 78° for cooling in the summer. If this is a little too warm for your taste, you can start out by increasing your settings a degree at a time gradually over the summer. Any degree that you set your thermostat higher is lightening the load on your air conditioner just a little bit more.
Change the Air Filter
It’s also important to be diligent about changing out the air filter on time every single month. Your air filter can quickly get clogged with dust and dirt that block airflow coming into the system. The harder it is for your AC to bring in air, the more energy it has to use. This extra work can add strain to the unit, increasing wear and tear.
Flush the Condensate Drain Line
It’s also important to make sure that your condensate drain line is free from clogs so that the moisture from humidity can channel out of your home. If the line develops a clog, humidity can get trapped inside and rereleased into the air. This will make the air in your home feel warmer than it really is, no matter how low you set the thermostat temperature.
Check the Outdoor Unit
You also need to keep an eye on your outdoor unit. It is exposed to elements and weather around the clock. Dirt and debris can get into the system and have a major impact on how the air conditioner functions. Simply hosing down the exterior of the outdoor unit each month with gentle water pressure can make a huge difference in how your AC operates.
Listen for Signs of Problems
Aside from taking care of your air conditioner, you also want to be aware of what things are normal as a part of the operation and what things are not. If you begin to hear unusual sounds or notice a new operating pattern, you need to give our team a call to check it out.
For example, if your air conditioner starts to turn on and off more frequently, that is called short cycling. Your air conditioner has something wrong that is preventing it from staying on long enough to complete a cooling cycle.
Hometown Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted resource for AC maintenance. Schedule an appointment with us today! Your comfort is our business.