Four Things You Can Do to Extend the Life of Your Air Conditioner
Posted on: 7 March 2016
If your air conditioner might be reaching the end of its life, you still might like to get at least a few more summers out of it. There are some general things that you can do to extend the life of your AC unit. Here are four ways you can get the most use out of an older air conditioner.
1. Keep the Outside Unit Out of the Sun
If your AC unit is already working hard in the summer, there is no reason to make your unit double its efforts by keeping this in the sun. If you can plant shrubs or trees nearby, your external AC unit can get a break from the hot afternoon sun. If the unit is movable, moving it to a shadier side of the home can help as well.
2. Program Your Thermostat
If you have trouble remembering to turn down your AC unit when you are at work or before you go to bed at night, your air conditioning might be in overdrive. Take the guesswork out of this and add a programmable thermostat to your unit to help. You can set the timer to turn on when you're home in the evenings, and to set to a higher temperature or turn off when you are away or sleeping at night. If you have a pretty set schedule, your AC unit can be scheduled to follow it as well.
3. Alternatives for Cooling Your Home
If there are summer days that might have a bit of breeze in the air or cooler temperatures, it is a good idea to give your AC unit a break so that it isn't working overtime all summer long. Adding in ceiling fans, drapes that are darker to keep out the sunlight, and well placed trees that can keep afternoon sun off of your home can help. Don't add to the heat by baking or using the dryer during the hottest times of the day.
4. Keep up on General Maintenance and Repairs
If you can stay on top of general maintenance with your AC unit, it will last longer and won't be up for replacement as quickly. Of course there might be issues that will call for emergency repairs. If you can have an HVAC professional, such as Affordable Plumbing & Heat, provide general repairs and maintenance, this will keep small problems from turning into major repairs or a total replacement.
Going easy on your air conditioning unit can help extend its life for years to come. It is well worth the cost to keep up on maintenance and repairs rather than a full replacement. Try to be kind to your AC unit so that it can function for a few more summers to come.
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