8 Big Errors You're Making With Your Air Conditioning System

1. All-time summer heat records keep buckling under the weight of rising international temperatures-- a trend that strikes home, literally and figuratively, when you get your month-to-month air conditioning costs. Errors you're making with your home Air Conditioner may be damaging its efficiency, efficiency, and security, professionals say. If you have a badly maintained system, it can become contaminated with bacteria that may be damaging if breathed in. Common signs are asthma problems and allergies. Here are eight of the most typical mistakes people make when it concerns house A/C, and some basic modifications that can save your lungs and wallet. # 1. You Aren't Altering or Cleaning Your AC Filters At a minimum, you must be changing the filter on your main Air Conditioning unit as soon as every 3 months-- and as typically as when a month if your system is running all the time. Disregard this chore, and a filthy filter can cause poor air circulation or freezing up of your system's evaporator coil, states James Braun, a teacher of engineering and director of the Center for High Performance Buildings at Purdue University. A dirty filter might include 5% central air toronto to 15% to your Air Conditioning costs, and will shorten the lifespan of your whole system. Fortunately, replacement filters are quite inexpensive-- generally less than $10. If you have ductless "split" A/C units, there must be a removable panel on your unit that will enable you to clean off the filter with a rag-- no replacement needed. # 2. You're Not Having Your System Serviced Each Year You could look up online video tutorials about cleaning your Air Conditioner unit's coils and fins-- necessary upkeep operations that keep your system up and running efficiently. You might also generate a professional to service your system once a year. The U.S. Department of Energy offers some ideas when looking for Air Conditioner service professionals. # 3. You Don't Have a Programmable Thermostat Perhaps you're one of those super-humans who constantly keeps in mind to change the thermostat prior to leaving the house. If you're like the rest of us, a programmable thermostat can save you hundreds on your annual Air Conditioner costs by instantly raising the temperature at those times of day when you're at work or away from

2. house. Newer phone-controllable "clever" thermostats make shows even simpler. # 4. You're Setting Your Thermostat Too Low Research reveals the body is capable of adapting to hot or cool temperature levels pretty rapidly-- like within a week or 2. When you consider you'll cut up to 3% off your Air Conditioner bill for every single degree you raise the temperature-- not to discuss the prospective environmental advantages of decreasing your Air Conditioner usage- - it deserves sweating through that modification duration and setting your thermostat someplace in the high 70s (or higher if you can handle it). # 5. You're Not Taking Full Benefit of Fans Any kind of fan, however particularly ceiling fans, can assist keep cool air circulating throughout your home. That removes some of the burden from your A/C system. Just make certain your ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise during the summertime, which promotes higher air circulation. # 6. Your Thermostat and/or Vents Are Improperly Positioned If the sun or a neighboring lamp blasts your thermostat for huge chunks of the day, that might toss off its readings and cause it to crank your AC although your location is happily cool. Especially if you're away throughout the day, you may not realize your system is working overtime due to a lost thermostat. Blocking AC vents with furniture or curtains can also limit air flow. Unless you spend a great deal of time gathered under your sofa, you'll wish to make sure your A/C vents are unblocked. # 7. You're Cooling Empty Rooms If AC vents are open in every space of your house, you're chilling a lot of property that may not be in use on a daily basis. Stroll around and close those Air Conditioner vents that open onto empty rooms. Closing closet doors ensures those areas aren't swallowing your cold air. # 8. You Do not Have Blinds Or Curtains Brilliant sunshine is your AC system's bane. By closing blinds and moving drapes to obstruct the sun's rays, you'll also shield your space from the sun's heat, specialists state. http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection&region=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/HVAC