To say that summers in Florida get hot would be an understatement. Whether you own a house or renting an apartment in Vero Beach, FL, there are plenty of easy ways to improve your air conditioner’s efficiency this summer. With a little DIY filter cleaning, some easy ductwork maintenance and proper thermostat usage, you can make sure that your AC system handles even the hottest days. Here are some ways to improve your AC efficiency:
Make Sure You Have Clean Filters
Dirty and dusty air filters cause more AC units to break down than anything else that we’ve seen in all our years of experience. Since your unit has to work harder when it’s dealing with a bottleneck in the filter system, having clogged AC filters can both raise your energy bills in the short term and shorten the lifespan of your entire system over the long term. Changing the filters on a regular basis is quite easy to do yourself, but we’re always here to help if you’d like to have one of our professionals come out and take a look.
Give Your Duct System a Thorough Examination
Increasing the efficiency of your AC system is all about making sure that cool air can circulate through your home effectively. Nothing gets in the way of this more than having leaks in your duct system. The worst leaks can make your unit work almost 150% harder than it would have to otherwise, but the good news is that these leaks are usually easy to fix. All it takes is some basic duct sealant, a little elbow grease and the time it takes to do the initial inspection.
Make Effective Use of Your Thermostat
Most of our residential customers tell us that air conditioning costs are always the biggest part of their utility bill, but using your thermostat effectively can help eliminate a lot of the stress that you might be accidentally putting on your AC system. If you leave your home at a regular time for work every day, then making sure the thermostat is off for most of the time that you’re away can be one of the easiest ways to make your AC system more efficient. In addition, moving any high-energy appliances away from the thermostat can also be quite effective.
Don’t Be Shy About Using Ceiling Fans
Increasing your AC efficiency can really be as simple as using ceiling fans whenever you’re home. Fans won’t typically keep a Florida house cool by themselves, but they will help you put less of a burden on your AC system. A powerful ceiling fan also helps to circulate the cooled air coming in from your vents, and circulating the air more effectively means your AC system doesn’t need to cycle nearly as often as it would otherwise.
Take Advantage of Your Window Blinds
Closing your blinds can help keep hot air outside where it belongs. Sunlight coming through the windows when your blinds are open can raise the temperature of your home much more than you might expect, and we’ve even seen some situations where a room got 10 degrees cooler just by closing the blinds. Drapes are also effective, and they’re easy to install yourself if you don’t have them.
Clean Your AC’s Condenser Unit
You’ll need a few tools to implement this strategy, but having a clean condenser unit can make all of the difference in the world. You’ll typically need a normal garden hose, a sharp knife, some gloves, a vacuum, and a 4-in-1 screwdriver to do it right, but the entire job takes less than a few hours. Just make sure to turn off the power to your condenser before you get started.
If you’re looking for some professional advice on prepping your AC unit to handle the coming summer, Barker Air Conditioning and Heating would be happy to talk with you today. In addition to our regular HVAC maintenance services, we also offer 24/7 emergency help and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We’re always here to help, so give us a call today.
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