{"id":14802,"date":"2012-08-28T10:10:45","date_gmt":"2012-08-28T16:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=14802"},"modified":"2012-08-28T10:10:45","modified_gmt":"2012-08-28T16:10:45","slug":"air-conditioner-maintenance-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/air-conditioner-maintenance-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"End-of-Summer Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note:<\/strong> Sure, you can live without air conditioning<\/a>, even during brutal Summers like the one about to end. But no amount of natural cooling<\/a> will lower the humidity in your home (or prevent things like mold growth that spring from that humidity). If air conditioning is necessary to keep your home free of such nastiness, make sure you’re taking care of your system: here are some tips for doing just that.<\/em><\/p>\n

Home Rehab Online: Green Home<\/h2>\n

5 Tips for A\/C Upkeep<\/h1>\n

By Katie Kretschmer for Home Rehab Online<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Welcome\u00a0to steamy August, when the last thing you want is for your air\u00a0conditioner to conk out on you — especially with this Summer\u2019s record\u00a0temps across t he country. Whether you rely on a window unit or central\u00a0air, easy A\/C maintenance tips will keep the cool air flowing when you\u00a0need it. We asked the pros for easy ways to ensure your system is\u00a0running through Labor Day and beyond.<\/p>\n

1. Change your filter<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s\u00a0the easiest thing you can do to ensure your system keeps you cool, says\u00a0Bobby DiFulgenitz, director of product management at Lennox. \u201cA clogged\u00a0filter forces your system to work harder, using more energy,\u201d he says.\u00a0He suggests changing the filter on central air systems every other month\u00a0— or more if you have pets that shed.\u00a0Not only will you save money on\u00a0your energy bill, you\u2019ll be breathing cleaner air.<\/p>\n

“Just\u00a0make sure it\u2019s the right filter for your model, but also the correct\u00a0type of filter,\u201d adds Terry Frisenda, regional account manager for LG\u00a0Electronics USA Commercial Air Conditioning. He cautions that too fine a\u00a0filter will make it harder for the unit to push air through. If you\u00a0have a window unit, Frisenda says, \u201cSimply wash and replace the filter\u00a0— but be sure it\u2019s completely dry before you put it back.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Clean the coils<\/h3>\n

Like\u00a0a clogged filter, blocked fins and coils on the outside unit can cause\u00a0your system to work harder and subsequently break down, according to\u00a0Frisenda. Use a nylon brush or broom and your garden hose — never a\u00a0pressure washer — to rinse leaves, grass and other debris from the\u00a0fins, he says. If you have a window unit, do this in the Spring, before\u00a0you install the unit for the season, and again in the fall, before you\u00a0put it away.<\/p>\n

3. Remove obstructions<\/h3>\n

Make\u00a0sure there is nothing blocking the flow of air around your outdoor\u00a0unit: Any plantings, hedges or fencing you might have to hide your\u00a0outdoor unit need to be at least 12 to 15 inches away, according to\u00a0Frisenda. Inside, don\u2019t cover your window unit with drapes or curtains\u00a0when it\u2019s on.<\/p>\n

4. Program your thermostat<\/h3>\n

For\u00a0a central system, set your thermostat to a slightly higher temperature\u00a0during the day, when you leave the house, and a lower temperature when\u00a0you get home from work, says DiFulgenitz. The newest thermostats are\u00a0designed to be more user-friendly, and some even work via WiFi or your\u00a0smartphone, so you can raise the setting when you leave to run errands,\u00a0and then remotely turn it back down when you are on your way home. This\u00a0lowers energy bills as well as reduces strain on the system.<\/p>\n

Shut\u00a0window units off when you are gone. \u201cWindow units are designed to cool a\u00a0room quickly, and they also use a lot more energy, so it\u2019s more\u00a0efficient to turn it off,\u201d says Frisenda.<\/p>\n

5. Get a tune-up<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0best way to keep your whole-house cooling system trouble free is to\u00a0have an HVAC pro give it a tune-up once a year — in the Spring, before\u00a0you need your A\/C is best. \u201cIt\u2019s like changing your oil in your car,\u201d\u00a0says DiFulgenitz, \u201cand it helps everything run better and last longer.\u201d\u00a0As part of the tune-up, the contractor will check and clean filters,\u00a0test the internal mechanisms and charge the unit with refrigerant.\u00a0However, window units don\u2019t need this. \u201cAnd if anyone tells you they\u00a0want to top off the coolant in your window unit, they are ripping you\u00a0off,\u201d says Frisenda.<\/p>\n

More easy checks and fixes:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Examine the cord on your window unit for frayed or worn spots. It may need to be replaced.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Use drapes and blinds to block the sun from warming rooms so your A\/C doesn’t need to work as hard.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Protect outdoor units from corrosion — especially if you live near\u00a0salt water — with paste wax. Just apply and buff it in, says Frisenda.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Look for and seal air leaks around windows and doors with a caulk gun.\u00a0\u201cWhen cool air escapes, or hot air can find its way into your home, your\u00a0air conditioner has to work harder to keep the temperature where you\u00a0like it,\u201d says DiFulgenitz.<\/p>\n

Photo: Corbis Images<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Katie<\/strong> Kretschmer<\/strong> is a writer and editor whose\u00a0work touches all areas of style — from fashion, art and design to crafts,\u00a0decorating and DIY.
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