5 Costly AC Mistakes that Most Homeowners Make

An air conditioner (AC), just like any other machine, works perfectly if it’s well maintained. If you treat your AC system in the right way, your home’s cooling should be efficient for quite some time. But if you neglect the maintenance and regular inspection, you are likely to find yourself with a nonfunctional AC.

Here are five costly mistakes that most homeowners make.

1. Buying the wrong AC

An AC professional can help you determine the right unit size for your household. Acquiring the wrong unit means frequent downtimes, not to mention the frequent expensive repairs. Too big AC may cycle on and off frequently, making it inefficient at eliminating humidity and maintaining a specific level of temperature in your home. A small AC is likely to run constantly, and that will shorten the lifespan of the unit.

2. Installing the unit in the wrong location

Most homeowners may not know this, but installing the AC unit in an inappropriate location makes the system inefficient. For instance, setting up the AC in an area hit by sunlight continually makes it take longer to provide the desired temperature. That means the AC uses more energy and that means increased energy bills.

HVAC professionals recommend that you should install your AC unit under a shade to ensure that it functions efficiently, especially in warmer climates in places like Arizona and Texas. Therefore, it’s essential to seek professional AC repair and installation in the Austin area, and you will never regret your investment.

3. Not replacing the AC air filters

According to HVAC experts, you should switch AC air filters twice monthly. How frequent you should these filters depends on where you live and the season. For example, spring is among the worst seasons for your AC system as the debris in the air may get stuck in different parts of the AC. Thus, it’s recommended to change the filters every fortnight.

If you live in an area with strong winds, it’s recommended to change the filters at least once every two weeks. Failure to change the filters will affect the quality of the air in your home. This can cause allergies if someone in your home is allergic. If there is debris buildup in your AC system, this might stress the unit and use much energy.

4. Keeping the thermostat too low

Many people are okay with temperatures in the high 70s. However, they set their thermostat low out of habit. If you aren’t aware, you can save at least three percent of your energy costs for every degree you raise the temperature in your home.

5. Leaving windows open

Open windows allow humidity into your home and let the cool air escape. That forces your AC to work hard trying to stabilize the temperature in your house, and that leads to energy wastage and increased energy bills. Therefore, it’s recommended to keep your windows and doors closed.

Your air conditioning investment is worth protecting. You must have invested a substantial amount of money in purchasing and installation of the unit. Don’t let poor maintenance practices ruin our AC.

Written by johnny