Walker's Heating and Air

Stay cool with these easy steps

Everyone wants to stay as cool as possible during those hot summer months, but you may not know the most efficient way to do so. Maintaining your air conditioning system is crucial to help keep it running the most effectively without seeing the electricity bill skyrocket. Following these simple steps will help you keep a cool home all while keeping your energy bill low!

1) Replace Air Filters Monthly

Checking your air filters is one of the easiest ways to maintain a cool home. All kinds of debris can get into your filters that will affect its performance. Dust, pet hair, and general build-up will result in a blocked filter and reduce air flow throughout the home. The majority of filters need to be cleaned or replaced every thirty days, but there are some that can last longer, such as every four to six months. Just be sure to read the directions on the filter! A helpful tip for remembering when to change these filters is to write a reminder on your calendar so you don’t forget when a new filter is due. Old air filters put a strain on your AC unit and can increase the cost of energy. Keeping your filters clean will allow for better airflow and improved unit efficiency and performance.

2) Get Your AC Unit Serviced Early

The summer months tend to be some of our busiest months of the year. Nobody wants to be without air conditioning, especially in this SC heat! Scheduling a maintenance visit in the spring can help give you some peace of mind when it comes time to run that AC on full blast. During a maintenance visit, our team will identify any issues we may see, and work to make sure that your unit is preforming exactly as it should. Putting off a maintenance visit can lead to more costly problems down the road, so we highly recommend scheduling in advance to reduce the likeliness of any issues occurring.

3) Clean And Maintain the Condenser Unit

Your outdoor condenser unit works hard to keep your home cool, but the yard scaping surrounding the unit tends to affect its efficiency. If the unit is surrounded by overgrowth and debris, the unit will have to work harder to cool your home. Taking the time to clean the area around the unit will help it to function properly. The placement of the unit also affects its performance. If the unit is not covered by any shade, it may have to work harder. Providing some shade can help it run smoother, but if this is not an option, there are other ways to cool off your unit. Spraying the outside of the unit with a hose is one easy way to cool it down on hot summer days. You can do this yourself or call a licensed professional.

4) Weatherize Your Home

Weatherizing your home isn’t just necessary in the winter. Small cracks in the doors and windows can let cold air escape and hot air in, resulting in your unit working harder than it needs too. Sealing these areas during both the winter and summer seasons can aid in keeping your home stay at the desired temperature and reduce high energy bills!

5) Thermostat Tips

Making sure your thermostat is set on all the right settings is very important in keeping a cool home. The first step in ensuring your thermostat is running correctly is to check if the air setting is set to “Auto” or “On”. Having your air set to on means the system will be running constantly, resulting in a harder working unit and an increased energy bill. When the thermostat is placed on the auto setting, the fan will turn on when it is actively cooling the home. Once the thermostat detects that the home has reached its desired temperature, the fan will turn off. If the temperature starts to rise, the fan will turn back on again. Using this setting can help with humidity issues, potentially extend the lifetime of your unit, and it is more energy efficient.

If you are going to be away for a few days, it is recommended to adjust the temperature to three to six degrees higher than its normal setting. Doing so will help keep the home cool, avoid any humidity problems, and reduce energy use. Once you return home you can set the thermostat back to your desired temperature.

6) Getting Professional Help

Even after following these maintenance tips, we know that air conditioner maintenance is a lot of work. Knowing when it is time to contact a professional is in your best interest, and we are always here to help! Our number one priority is to give our customers the best experience possible, so give us a call and we will get your unit working right!