1. Schedule Regular Servicing

Regular servicing helps keep your family comfortable, extend the life of your entire HVAC system, and catch issues before they become expensive repairs. We recommend having your HVAC system inspected by a professional twice a year. During a precision tune-up, we examine safety components, check coolant levels, inspect and clean the condensate drain and drip pans, clean the evaporator coil if needed, test the thermostat, and more. But don’t wait until the dog days of summer; now is the perfect time to schedule a tune-up.

2. Check Air Filters

We’re often asked how frequently air filters should be changed, but no one-size-fits-all answer exists. It depends on the size of your home, if you have pets, the type of HVAC system you have, etc. Therefore, we recommend checking your air filter monthly and cleaning or replacing it when it is dirty. 

3. Keep the Cool Air in and the Hot Air Out

Drafty doors and windows can make your air conditioner work harder than it has to, resulting in more wear and tear on your unit, potentially leading to expensive repairs and higher cooling costs. Sealing gaps around your door with door sweeps, draft excluders, foam tape, etc., can help keep the cool air in and the hot air out. To seal gaps around your windows, you can install window attachments, such as insulated cellular shades, curtains, window films, etc. 

4. Keep the Area Around Your Outside Condenser Unit Clear

Most air conditioning systems include an outdoor unit, which contains the outdoor heat exchanger, fan, and compressor and is typically called the condenser unit. The inside AC unit absorbs heat from inside your home, which is released to the outside through the condenser unit. However, if the area around your condenser is blocked by landscaping or debris, it blocks the airflow, which can shorten the unit’s lifespan and lead to expensive repairs and higher cooling costs as the unit struggles to release the hot air. Therefore, we recommend keeping obstructions at least one to four feet (or more) from the condenser unit.

5. Use Ceiling Fans

Anything you can do to make your air conditioner not have to work as hard will improve efficiency, extend the life of the unit, minimize expensive repairs, and lower cooling costs. Although ceiling fans do not lower the room temperature, they make people feel cooler and more comfortable. “When a ceiling fan is operating, you can usually raise the thermostat setting by up to four degrees during the cooling season with no reduction in comfort,” according to the University of Florida. “Increasing the room temperature by even two degrees can cut your cooling costs by at least 4%–6%, and in some cases by as much as 8%.” Because ceiling fans cool people and not rooms, experts recommend only operating a fan when someone is in the room. 

Schedule Your Free Comfort Analysis

Ultimate Comfort offers service plans and precision tune-ups that can help ensure your air conditioner is working at peak performance to keep your family comfortable throughout the summer. And if it’s time for a new, more efficient air conditioner, we are fully licensed and insured in air conditioner and heat pump sales and installation.

Call today at 610-750-8314 or connect with us online for a FREE Comfort Analysis. Estimates and consultations for new systems are provided FREE of charge.