Summertime is a wonderful time to enjoy outside activities with your friends and family. But at the end of the day, it feels great to walk into your cool, air-conditioned home.
Taking care of your HVAC system not only keeps the system working properly, but also reduces the energy cost. About half of your yearly energy costs come from the summer months. Here are some simple steps you can take to make sure that your HVAC system works efficiently all year long.
What Can You Do?
One of the most important things that you can do is also one of the simplest: Change your HVAC filters every month. If you have a reusable filter, you should thoroughly rinse it once a month. Cleaning or changing your filter can reduce your energy costs by as much as 15 percent.
Another way to reduce energy costs is by installing a programmable thermostat, which can lead to substantial savings on your power bill. A programmable thermostat allows you to program different temperature settings for different times of the day. While you are at work, you can raise the temperature in your home by a few energy-saving degrees and then tell your thermostat to cool your house down before you arrive home. There are even programmable thermostats that allow you to make adjustments with your smartphone.
Last but not least, make sure that shrubs and other debris are not blocking your outside unit’s airflow, and make sure that all of your windows and doorways are properly sealed to prevent air leaks.
Hiring a Pro
Every spring and summer, you should have an Orlando AC repair professional visit and do maintenance on your system. This involves emptying the drain pan, lubricating moving parts, removing dust and build-up from the condenser coil, and cleaning the fan blades. The technician will evaluate your system and make sure that it is working efficiently. This visit also allows the technician to find problems before they lead to a breakdown of the system.
Does Your HVAC System Need to Be Replaced?
Your older HVAC unit may be cooling your home, but is it doing so efficiently? Are your energy costs higher than they used to be? It may be time to replace your HVAC system. If your system is more than 10 years old, you can reduce your energy usage by as much as 40 percent by installing new equipment. On a new system, the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) should be a 13 or higher.
You do not want to endure a sleepless night because your air conditioning system broke down in the middle of the summer. Call today and set up a maintenance visit with our Orlando HVAC service.
