The end of summer is “officially” in just a few short weeks, though that doesn’t mean much for folks in our area! As far as your air conditioner is concerned though, at this time of the year the system has certainly built up quite a bit of wear and tear from steady work.
Considering that we begin using our air conditioners pretty regularly starting in April—sometimes even earlier—it makes sense that you might run into some problems with AC malfunctions or that your cooling system may begin to run inefficiently, raising your electrical costs and causing a need for San Antonio, TX air conditioning services. We’ve shared a few tips below on how to help your air conditioner get through the rest of the season as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Change Your Air Filter
Don’t underestimate just how important a clean air filter is to the functionality of your air conditioner. The air filter that comes standard with your HVAC services is not there to protect your indoor air quality, like many people believe, but rather to protect the inside components of your HVAC systems.
This means you should be changing your air filter every 1-3 months. The stronger the air filter is, the less frequently you need to change it. But if you haven’t changed yours since the start of summer, it almost certainly needs to be changed now.
A clean air filter will help you keep bill sunder control, and help you to prevent extra, unnecessary strain on motors that can lead to breakdowns and tripped circuit breakers—among other problems.
Keep the Area around the Outside Cabinet Clean
Have you looked at the outside cabinet of your air conditioner lately? If you see branches and leaves gathering around it, this can restrict the proper heat release from the unit, which will cause system efficiency to drop.
Things like lawn mulch, rocks, and pebbles can also create an opportunity for system damage if they get inside the cabinet, so be sure to keep the area around the cabinet clear for at least a foot.
Check Your Thermostat
Appropriate thermostat control is an essential part of keeping your air conditioning bills under control. We suggest aiming for a setting of 78°F, as this is the temperature that the average person is comfortable at. If your thermostat isn’t working as it should, though, then it doesn’t matter how low or high you have it set. Your air conditioner is going to operate at the wrong times, and subsequently waste power.
Make sure your thermostat has fresh batteries, and check on the programming to see that the air conditioner is responding to it as it should. If it is not, you might either need to repair or replace the thermostat, or even call for air conditioning system repairs. Our expertly trained technicians will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis on the problem.
Don’t Delay on Repairs
Doing so can allow a domino effect to occur—one faulty component can impact another, so on and so forth. If you need a repair, or suspect that you need AC repairs, the time to call for them is now!
For expert air conditioning information and services, look no further than Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating.
Contact us today!