For many of us, the only constant throughout the summer was our air conditioning. However, as the hotter months come to a close in the coming weeks, we need to give it the last little push it needs to get through the AC season. Unfortunately, many homeowners are actually making things harder for their system. Luckily, you still have plenty of time to help out your AC!
Not Replacing Air Filters
It’s important that you keep an eye on your indoor air quality. High levels of contaminants and allergens make your home feel uncomfortable and uninviting to your guests. Luckily, your HVAC system already has protections built into it. You should have air filters in your ductwork that can do a lot to take contaminants out of the air. However, these need to be changed out every month in order to maintain their effectiveness.
If you fail to replace these filters, you not only risk your indoor air quality falling, but you also will cause poor airflow which can cause problems with your heating and cooling, including causing air leaks and other long term harm to your HVAC infrastructure.
You Heat Your Home Up Unnecessarily
Your home AC unit can only do so much. Most air conditioners can only cool your home by about 20 degrees. If you’re letting your home get extremely hot, your AC will have more trouble getting it cool. There are plenty of everyday activities that increase the temperature of your home.
One example is cooking. Whether it’s boiling water, or just heating up the oven, your home can increase in temperature. One of the other main ways your home can increase in temperature is from the sun. The sun’s rays are constantly heating the Earth and will heat your home if allowed to. Be sure to close your curtains especially in the morning to prevent your home from heating up. If it’s a constant problem, consider landscaping to shade your home.
Be Smart with a Smart Thermostat
You have control of your HVAC system through your thermostat. You have the ultimate control over what temperature you’re setting your thermostat. However, it’s hard to keep everything optimal from an energy efficiency standpoint. We recommend a smart thermostat to make things easier. Studies have shown that you can expect to save over $100 from that simple change.
In addition to those savings, a smart thermostat is a convenient way to monitor your energy usage, while adding comfort to your home.
Help Your Home Seem Colder
We know that the comfort of your home is subjective. Some temperatures may feel comfortable for some people and terrible for others. We also know that things like humidity, and wind chill impact how we perceive temperatures. This is how we can make our homes feel cooler beyond the number on the thermostat display. Remember to run fans to keep things ventilated and consider a dehumidifier to make things feel cooler.
While you rely on your air conditioner, in many ways it relies on you as well. You are the one who has to keep it working well and part of that is developing the good habits which can keep your energy costs low.
Global Cooling want to help you with whatever problem you have with your home HVAC system. Whether you need improved indoor air quality, a replacement, or a repair, we would love to help improve in your home. Feel free to give us a call at (352) 269-8191 or fill out an online contact form to set up an appointment.