Air conditioners are a big investment and people want them to run as smoothly as possible for years to come. However, some people shorten the lifespan of their units by doing things not knowing it has a clear effect on the performance in the long run. We will discuss all the practices along with prevention tips to help keep your air conditioner away from complications. One of them includes getting your air conditioner serviced by an HVAC repair service. Let’s Start.

Forgetting To Change The Filter

Air conditioners are fairly simple electronic appliances. They comprise several different parts that work together as a team to produce hot and cold air. Some of the parts must be replaced or cleaned for the unit to perform normally. For instance, air filters installed inside an air conditioner are designed to keep toxicants and contaminants away before the air is circulated inside the house.

With time, the air filters tend to become dirty and clogged. This not only puts the unit under additional stress but also circulates contaminated air inside the house which can lead to chronic health problems. Fortunately, it’s easy to clean the air filters.

All you need to do is remove and clean it. Make sure that you repeat the cycle depending on how much you use the unit. If the air conditioner has been sitting dormant for a while, you should clean its air filters before turning it on. And, if your air conditioner tends to be old, you will need to inspect the air filters for cracks and damage, etc., and get them replaced.

Hiding Your HVAC System

Another noteworthy mistake homeowners often tend to make is placing or hiding the outdoor HVAC system in a place that can make operations difficult. Most people tend to place the outdoor units under trees or near shrubs and plantations to keep the unit cool.

However, these have the opposite effect. Placing the outdoor units in such areas will only lead to dead leaves, branches, and shrubs ending up inside the unit, especially during extreme weather conditions. With time, these can create complications inside the unit and might also lead to expensive repairs and replacements.

This is why, it is important to designate a proper place or area for the installation of the outdoor unit. If there isn’t any, you will need to remove some trees and natural objects to make way.

Constantly Changing The Temperature

If you have multiple people living in the house, some may be sensitive to temperatures. This is the case with the elderly and kids. As a result, the thermostat is constantly adjusted to ensure everyone remains comfortable. However, this practice puts the unit under stress.

Constantly adjusting the thermostat might cause tripping and the unit will need to adjust its performance accordingly. If this happens continuously, the unit will utilize more electricity instead of running efficiently and may result in a high air conditioning bill. The best way to avoid this situation is by opting for a temperature that keeps everyone cozy and comfortable.

If that is not possible, you might want to shift the kids or elderly to the same or separate rooms so that you do not have to adjust the temperature more often since both tend to be sensitive to high temperatures.

Placing Appliances Near The Thermostat

You might have seen people placing decorative items and objects near the air conditioner or thermostat. While you may think, that is not a problem. But in the long run, it puts the unit under stress. Placing items and objects in front of the air conditioner disturbs the circulation and the unit has to work harder to compensate for the loss of air.

Furthermore, the indoor unit should not be installed near a heat source. The reason is that it contains a thermostat, which can easily malfunction by catching the temperatures in the surroundings. The thermostat will be forced to believe that the temperature in the surroundings is high and will adjust its temperature accordingly.

This puts the entire unit in a state of confusion. Therefore, you should make sure that placing anything in front of the air conditioner or thermostat can be damaging and you should avoid doing it at all costs.

Not Cleaning The Coils

Cleaning the coils is as important as cleaning the air filters. The condenser and evaporator coils tend to be amongst the most important components inside an air conditioner and help dissipate heat. With time, the coils become accumulated with layers of dirt and dust, which makes the dissipation of heat impossible.

That said, you should make sure the coils are cleaned regularly and are part of the regular maintenance procedure. If you do not have access to the coils, you should opt for professional maintenance. Many people assume that professional maintenance is just a way for companies to print money.

However, that is not the case. You should schedule maintenance by air conditioning repair services Vienna because it saves you money in the long run. Plus, professional maintenance is not only limited to cleaning but also includes thorough inspection that allows the professionals to identify any unusual signs & symptoms and fix them before they turn serious.

Skipping Duct Cleaning

Anything and everything related or attached to your air conditioner should be maintained and looked after. This means the ducts that help circulate the air inside the house should be squeaky clean as well. This is because if there is dust, cracks, dirt, or damage, it will affect the performance of the unit.

If the air conditioner is used almost throughout the year, you should only get the ducts cleaned once or twice annually. However, if your air conditioner sits dormant for almost half the year, you will need to make sure the ducts are clean before you can use the unit again.

Installing An HVAC That Is Too Big

It is a common misconception that installing a bigger HVAC helps with better cooling. It is the opposite. An air conditioner bigger than the area itself will constantly trip as it will be able to reach the desired temperature relatively quickly. You might think this saves electricity but it doesn’t.

In the long run, a constantly tripping air conditioner will utilize more electricity. As a general rule of thumb, you should always opt for a unit based on the dimensions of the area where it will be installed. Playing guessing games will only lead you to make bad choices. Plus, considering the air conditioners are not cheap, you do not want to make the same mistakes over and over again.

Ignoring Loud Noises Or Strange Smells

Air conditioners and similar appliances make louder or weird noises when they are not working properly. For example, a loud rattling noise from the condenser unit may mean that debris is obstructing the fan. If not cleared, it will put stress on your AC which will shorten its life. Similarly, an unusual smell from the unit can also show problems and if you ignore them, your AC’s lifespan might suffer.

Conclusion

Make sure that you schedule AC maintenance and keep an eye out for unusual signs & symptoms to keep your unit running effortlessly. It’s best to consult air conditioning companies Fairfax for repairs and maintenance.