Summer is right around the corner here in Dayton, so now's the time to shift your thoughts to air conditioning your home. Even though our summers are not hot, we still want to enjoy the most efficiency possible when cooling our homes.
We also want our air conditioning equipment to last for as long as possible. The good news is there are ways you can get the most efficiency and reliability from your air conditioning this summer in Dayton. Here are a few things you can do and your HVAC company can do to help you reach these goals.
Change The A/C Filter
It's easy to overlook the home maintenance you can do yourself to enjoy the most efficiency from your A/C. One of the simplest things you can do to keep up with the A/C maintenance is replacing the filter.
Keep an eye on how quickly it gets dirty so you know about how often to change the filter. Everyone's home is different and there are other variables, like pets in the home or living next to a factory, which will make a difference in how fast your filter gets dirty.
Also Clean the Vents Throughout Your Dayton Home
Pet hairballs, dust, dander, and other pollutants get stuck on the vents and then get blown all over your house.
It's coming from inside the ventilation system as well, which isn't good for your air conditioning equipment. The more the dust and stuff builds up, the harder your unit has to work to keep your home cool.
Clean the vents regularly, including the larger intake vent in front of the inside air handler unit.
Clean the Outdoor Air Conditioning Condenser
You can hose off the outdoor A/C unit, or condenser, anytime to clean leaves and dirt off. Also make sure there are no plants, weeds, or vines growing within three feet surrounding the condenser unit. Overgrowth blocks the air flow your equipment needs to operate efficiently.
Hire a Dayton HVAC Company for Maintenance
One of the most important things you shouldn't neglect if you want your Dayton air conditioner to work efficiently and reliably all summer is the professional HVAC maintenance.
There are certain parts which need to be tested, cleaned, adjusted, and lubricated. Without this seasonal tune-up, your equipment will age quicker and lose its efficiency quicker.
Hiring an HVAC company to maintain your air conditioner is well worth the cost. An air conditioning tune-up is an affordable way to improve the equipment's efficiency and reliability all throughout the warm season.
Your air conditioning contractor will perform a thorough system of checks, tests, adjustments, and lubrication, some of which are listed below.
- Checking and adjusting the Freon level for improved efficiency
- Clear out the condensation line to prevent problems like water damage and equipment stress
- Testing the thermostat for proper function - replace or adjust if necessary
- Clean certain areas of the air conditioning equipment
- Test the temperature of the air coming from the vents
- Test the air pressure within the system to check for duct leaks and other problems
- Test and inspect the electrical components
- Test and inspect for gas leaks
- Inspect the capacitors, coils, and other parts for signs of trouble
Fix Any Zoning Problems
Are there certain areas of your Dayton home that won't get cool no matter how low you turn down the air conditioning system? This is a zoning problem which can be fixed if you call in an HVAC company.
When your equipment has to run all summer to accommodate the warm areas of the house, it's working too hard and it won't run efficiently. If your bills are too high, this could be the reason.
There are a number of reasons your home isn't being cooled correctly:
- A badly placed thermostat located in the wrong area
- A leaky air duct to the room that stays warm
- An air duct blockage
- The layout of the system is badly designed
- Your unit is too small for the square-footage of your house
Call in an air conditioning contractor to troubleshoot your zoning problem and take care of the regular HVAC maintenance we mentioned above, and you'll enjoy the most efficiency possible out of your equipment this summer in Dayton!