Eight Big Errors You're Making With Your Home AC Unit

1. All-time summer season heat records keep giving in the weight of increasing global temperatures-- a trend that hits house, actually and figuratively, when you get your monthly a/c expense. Mistakes you're making with your home A/C might be undercutting its performance, efficiency, and security, experts say. If you have a badly maintained system, it can become contaminated with microbes that may be harmful if breathed in. Common symptoms are asthma issues and allergic reactions. Here are 8 of the most typical errors individuals make when it pertains to home Air Conditioner, and some easy modifications that can conserve your lungs and wallet. # 1. You Aren't Changing or Cleaning Your A/C Filters At a minimum, you should be altering the filter on your main Air Conditioning unit as soon as every three months- - and as often as once a month if your system is running all the time. Disregard this task, and an unclean filter can lead to bad air circulation or freezing up of your unit's evaporator coil, says James Braun, a professor of engineering and director of the Center for High Performance Structures at Purdue University. An unclean filter might include 5% to 15% to your AC costs, and will reduce the lifespan of your entire system. Fortunately, replacement filters are quite cheap-- usually less than $10. If you have ductless "split" Air Conditioning systems, there must be a removable panel on your unit that will allow you to wipe off the filter with a rag-- no replacement needed. # 2. You're Not Having Your System Serviced Each Year You might look up online video tutorials about cleaning your Air Conditioning system's coils and fins-- necessary upkeep operations that keep your system up and running efficiently. You might likewise generate a professional to service your system once a year. The U.S. Department of Energy provides some ideas when looking for A/C service specialists. # 3. You Do not Have a Programmable Thermostat Possibly you are among those super-humans who always remembers to change the thermostat prior to leaving your home. However if you're like the rest of us, a programmable thermostat can save you hundreds on your annual Air Conditioner expense by instantly raising the temperature at those times of day when you're at work or far from home. Newer phone-controllable "smart" thermostats make programs even simpler. # 4. You're Setting Your Thermostat Too Low

2. Research shows the body is capable of adjusting to hot or cool temperatures pretty quickly-- like within a week or 2. When you consider you'll cut up to 3% off your Air Conditioner bill for each degree you raise the temperature-- not to discuss the prospective environmental advantages of decreasing your Air Conditioning use-- it's worth sweating through that adjustment period and setting your thermostat someplace in the high 70s (or greater if you can manage it). # 5. You're Not Taking Complete Advantage of Fans Any kind of fan, but especially ceiling fans, can assist ac replacement toronto keep cool air circulating throughout your home. That eliminates a few of the concern from your A/C system. Simply make sure your ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise throughout the summertime, which promotes higher air flow. # 6. Your Thermostat and/or Vents Are Improperly Positioned If the sun or a neighboring lamp blasts your thermostat for big pieces of the day, that could throw off its readings and cause it to crank your Air Conditioning despite the fact that your place is happily cool. Particularly if you're away throughout the day, you may not recognize your system is working overtime due to a lost thermostat. Obstructing AC vents with furniture or curtains can likewise limit air circulation. Unless you invest a lot of time huddled under your couch, you'll wish to make sure your Air Conditioner vents are unblocked. # 7. You're Cooling Empty Spaces If Air Conditioner vents are open in every room of your home, you're chilling a lot of genuine estate that might not remain in usage on an everyday basis. Walk around and close those A/C vents that open onto unoccupied rooms. Closing closet doors makes sure those areas aren't swallowing your cold air. # 8. You Don't Have Blinds Or Curtains Bright sunlight is your Air Conditioning system's nemesis. By closing blinds and sliding drapes to block the sun's rays, you'll likewise protect your area from the sun's heat, experts state. http://edition.cnn.com/search/?text=HVAC