All-time summer season heat records keep giving in the weight of rising international temps-- a pattern that strikes home, actually and figuratively, when you receive your month-to-month cooling bill. Regrettably, errors you're making with your home Air Conditioning may be undercutting its performance, effectiveness, and safety, experts say.
If you have a severely kept system, it can become polluted with bacteria that might be hazardous if inhaled. Common symptoms are asthma issues and allergies.
Here are 8 of the most typical mistakes individuals make when it concerns house Air Conditioning, and some simple changes that can save your lungs and wallet.
# 1. You Aren't Changing or Cleaning Your Air Conditioner Filters
At a minimum, you should be changing the filter on your central AC unit once every 3 months-- and as often as once a month if your system is running all the time.
Disregard this task, and an unclean filter can lead to bad air circulation or freezing up of your unit's evaporator coil, states James Braun, a teacher of engineering and director of the Center for High Efficiency Structures at Purdue University. A dirty filter could include 5% to 15% to your A/C costs, and will reduce the life expectancy of your whole system. Fortunately, replacement filters are quite inexpensive-- typically less than $10.
If you have ductless "split" A/C units, there should be a removable panel on your system that will allow you to clean off the filter with a rag-- no replacement required.
# 2. You're Not Having Your System Serviced Every Year
You might search for online video tutorials about cleaning your AC unit's coils and fins-- required upkeep operations that keep your system up and running effectively. You might also generate a pro to service air conditioning repair blog your system once a year. The U.S. Department of Energy provides some suggestions when browsing for A/C service contractors.
# 3. You Do not Have a Programmable Thermostat
Perhaps you're one of those air conditioning contractor super-humans who always keeps in mind to change the thermostat before leaving your home. However if you're like the rest of us, a programmable thermostat can save you hundreds on your yearly A/C bill by automatically raising the temperature at those times of day when you're at work or away from house. Newer phone-controllable "smart" thermostats make programs even simpler.
# 4. You're Setting Your Thermostat Too Low
Research study shows the human body can adapting to hot or cool temperatures pretty rapidly-- like within a week or more. When you consider you'll cut up to 3% off your A/C bill for every degree you raise the temperature level-- not to mention the potential ecological benefits of decreasing your A/C use-- it deserves sweating through that adjustment period and setting your thermostat someplace in the high 70s (or higher if you can manage it).
# 5. You're Not Taking Complete Benefit of Fans
Any type of fan, however especially ceiling fans, can help keep cool air flowing throughout your home. That gets rid of some of the burden from your Air Conditioner system. Just make certain your ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise during the summer season, which promotes higher air circulation.
# 6. Your Thermostat and/or Vents Are Badly Placed
If the sun or a close-by lamp blasts your thermostat for big chunks of the day, that might toss off its readings and cause it to crank your AC even though your location is pleasantly cool. Particularly if you're away throughout the day, you may not realize your system is working overtime due to a lost thermostat.
Obstructing Air Conditioning vents with furniture or drapes can likewise limit air blood circulation. Unless you invest a lot of time huddled under your couch, you'll want to make sure your Air Conditioning vents are unblocked.
# 7. You're Cooling Empty Rooms
If A/C vents are open in every room of your house, you're chilling a great deal of property that may not remain in use on an everyday basis. Walk around and close those Air Conditioner vents that open onto empty rooms. Closing closet doors guarantees those spaces aren't swallowing your cold air.
# 8. You Don't Have Blinds Or Curtains
Brilliant sunshine is your A/C system's nemesis. By closing blinds and sliding drapes to obstruct the sun's rays, you'll also shield your area from the sun's heat, specialists say.