In Florida we know how important it is to keep our air conditioners running at their maximum performance all year long, but especially during the long, hot summer months. We definitely experience some record-setting hot days living in Florida, which means your AC has to work harder to keep up with the demand placed on it. Here are a few reasons your AC might struggle to keep up this summer, and what you can do to help deal with it.
YOU MISSED IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE
It is just as important for you air conditioning system to have an annual checkup as it is for you to have an annual health checkup. It is best to have your AC system checked at least once a year, before the peak summer season when you will need it the most, to make sure that it is running at it’s maximum efficiency and will be able to keep up with the rough summer demands placed upon it. If you haven’t had your annual AC system checkup performed already this year, don’t delay any further. Your trained maintenance technician should fully inspect your system, checking for any necessary repair or adjustments, and cleaning your system as they go along.
YOU HAVEN’T CHANGED THE AIR FILTER RECENTLY
Changing your air filter regularly is one of the simplest and most important things you can do to help keep your AC system running efficiently. The air filter’s job is to make sure that the inside components of your AC system are protected from dirt and debris that can clog and impact it’s performance. As your air filter gets fuller, it becomes more difficult for it to block dirt and debris from entering into your system and can restrict the airflow in your home. This will force your AC system to have to work harder to continue to perform the way that it should. It is ideal to check and change your air filter every 1 to 3 months depending on how frequently you are using your system and the number of contaminants in your air.
YOU AREN’T USING YOUR AIR CONDITIONER EFFICIENTLY
There are certainly many things you can do during the hot summer months that will help your AC system run as efficiently as possible. One of the most important things you can do is to help reduce the heat that is coming into your home. The less heat there is in your home, the less your AC system has to work to properly cool it. And the less work your AC system has to put in to keeping your home cool, the longer it will continue to run efficiently. Here are some tips to help you reduce the heat inside your home:
- Close off unused rooms by closing doors and vents. There is no reason to cool rooms that you aren’t using.
- Cover your windows with good shading. The less sun that is able to get into the home, the cooler it will be naturally.
- Take advantage of the summer BBQ time and cook outdoors – this will keep your oven and stove from producing additional heat inside the home.
- If you use a dishwasher don’t use the dry cycle. Once the dishes are done in the wash cycle simply leave the door open and let them air dry.
- Try to only use your clothes dryer during cooler times at night. Using it during the hottest part of the day will only add even more heat to your home.
- Keep heat producing appliances and electronics such as the television, computer, and lamps away from your home’s thermostat. If your thermostat is reading the temperature based off the heat of your electronics, it will continue to run longer than necessary.
YOUR AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED
If your air conditioner wasn’t installed by professionals, or even if it was and a good job was not performed, there is a possibility that your AC system could have been installed improperly which can lead to a number of issues with your system. It is possible that your AC system is not the right size for your home, which can cause issues whether it is too small or too large for the size of your home. Having an improperly sized AC unit forces your system to work harder as it goes through a process called short-cycling in which the unit rapidly turns off and on without ever completing a full cooling cycle. This can cause your system to operate inefficiently and potentially lead to a premature breakdown of your unit. If you think you are having issues with your AC system you should contact a properly licensed professional technician to come out and review your system to check for proper installation and to correct any improper installation concerns.
THERE IS A REFRIGERANT LEAK
Refrigerant, Freon for older systems and R410a for newer systems, is the chemical product used to help absorb the heat from your air and keep your AC system producing cool air. If your AC system doesn’t have enough refrigerant, or if there is a leak in your system, then it can’t absorb enough heat to properly cool the air. Signs of a refrigerant leak include a low refrigerant level, ice buildup on the refrigerant line and the outside unit, bubbling or hissing noises, and your air conditioner being able to properly cool your home on cool days and at night but not on hot days. If you think you might have a refrigerant leak it is best to turn your AC system off and call a professional technician as soon as possible! If your AC system runs with a refrigerant leak for too long, it could cause even further damage to your compressor which is expensive to replace.
As you can see there are many things you can do yourself to help improve the efficiency of your air conditioning system and keep it running at its maximum performance all summer long. But some things are going to require a professional’s help. If you need help from a professional contact the technicians at EasyBreezy A/C at 727-856-4822 today!
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