Air conditioning is essential to staying cool in the heat of summer. By following these helpful guidelines, your AC can work more effectively and save money come summer 2024.
Set Your Thermostat to the Right Temperature
If you have never actively adjusted your thermostat settings before, it may come as a surprise that even slight variations up or down can make an incredible impact on both comfort and utility costs (source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32095747). Finding an optimal balance requires carefully considering both comfort preferences and costs of cooling the home – tweaking the thermostat makes both possible!
Setting an ideal temperature in your home depends on many variables, including season and climate as well as insulation status. Aim for comfort during daytime hours to reduce energy bills in both summer and winter seasons.
Summer temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit are generally considered ideal living room temperatures for most families; however, humidity levels can significantly affect how cool we feel in our own homes. If your air conditioning unit causes high levels of humidity to build up in your living space, consider investing in a dehumidifier as a means of mitigating these effects or contacting Weathermakers at the information below.
Weathermakers Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc.
6496 126th Avenue North, Largo FL, 33773
727-576-9211
An ideal thermostat setting should be set higher during the daytime and lower it before sleeping or leaving home; just be wary not to lower it too low; doing so could cause your HVAC system to work harder than necessary to warm the house, ultimately leading to higher cooling bills.
When setting your thermostat during fall and winter months, aim for temperatures around 68 degrees Fahrenheit during daytime use when at home; adjust to around 65 degrees or less while asleep or away.
Clean the Condensation Drain Line
Air conditioners produce condensation as part of their function to cool your home, which drains into a drain line that empties directly outside or to a floor drain nearby. Unfortunately, over time this drain line can become blocked with debris such as dust and dirt, hindering or stopping condensation flow altogether. Maintaining an unclogged drain line will help avoid costly repairs while prolonging its life and saving money on energy costs.
If your air conditioning drainage line becomes blocked, immediately turn it off and locate its point of access – usually a T-shaped vent with a cap that can be removed to inspect and clean the drain line. From here you can direct pressured water from a garden hose into it in order to flush away any blockages present in its path.
The easiest way to clean drain lines is with a garden hose nozzle equipped with short bursts that last a few seconds of spray water into each pipe section in short bursts, using bursts that don’t disassemble your entire plumbing system just to clear one part of it. Doing this allows you to effectively unclog clogs while flushing them out without disassembling piping systems as a whole in order to do just one small section at a time.
Keep the Vents Clear
Dirty vents and ducts are not only unsightly, they also impede airflow throughout your home, hindering HVAC efficiency. By keeping them clean, your family will avoid breathing in dust and allergens that can pose health threats.
One of the primary factors contributing to dusty AC vents is due to a dirty filter. Therefore, it’s wise to replace your AC unit’s air filter like this on an annual basis, to stop dust from recirculating within your home and reduce your need for air conditioner service.
Your vents could also become dusty if they are blocked by furniture, rugs, curtains and other decor pieces that block off their air flow. In such an instance, move these objects so you can clean your vents properly.
Professional vent cleaners may also recommend having their vents professionally cleaned. A long scrub brush will be used to loosen dirt and dust that has collected on vent walls. Finally, they’ll vacuum out all interior vents as well as reach places you simply can’t reach yourself.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance for your air conditioner not only prepares it for summer temperatures, but it can also significantly enhance indoor air quality. Pollutants buildup inside air conditioning systems can lead to eye, throat and sinus irritation; bi-annual AC maintenance sessions help remove these contaminants from the air reducing risks for allergies and respiratory conditions.
Though you can perform some maintenance tasks yourself, nothing beats having an air conditioning specialist visit and provides expert advice and services to keep your home cool and comfortable throughout summer. The professional technicians at Weathermakers Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. can spot potential problems before they become more serious breakdowns. They do all the dirty work for you while offering helpful tips to ensure an ideal temperature in your home during hotter temperatures.
Investment in an annual maintenance plan to include professional cleaning of air filters, coils and other areas of your AC system is highly recommended to keep it operating optimally and prevent leaks while increasing efficiency. Your HVAC technician will inspect and seal ducts to avoid leaks and enhance overall system efficiency.
