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As summer nears and the temperature rises, we suddenly start to miss the chilly weather we enjoyed before. On some summer days, it’s so hot that you might as well cook your breakfast in the heat on the summer days! Luckily, air conditioning units are a godsend during the unbearably hot weather.
The Fascinating History of Air Conditioning
Needless to say, air conditioners are very complicated. They are a major engineering achievement that has required centuries of development to the machines we all know and love today. Today, many of us take for granted that we can just flick a switch and cool air just magically comes out of the system.
Early civilisations experimented (and succeeded!) with their own methods of keeping temperatures down to escape the heat, just as we do now. It wasn’t until 1902 where Willis Carrier invented what we would know today as modern air conditioning using ingenious methods to perform four key functions:
- regulate temperature
- regulate humidity
- control air circulation and ventilation
- air filtration
Worried about your HVAC system’s health?
With the strain on your air conditioning unit, it is only natural that you want to ensure they are running as efficiently as possible. While getting duct cleaning services near you is a sensible idea, there are some other things you can do daily to help out your poor HVAC system.
There are multiple advantages to taking care of your HVAC unit. Firstly, they reduce the figures on your electric bill at the end of the month. Estimates have suggested heating and cooling account for 20%-50% of monthly energy bills, so your potential savings could be huge.
However, the main advantage is that it reduces the chances of your air conditioning unit from running into problems. Trust us, you wouldn’t want your air conditioner breaking down in the middle of the summer. That is a complete nightmare that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. By following these simple steps, it may save you the trouble of having to pay for expensive repairs and suffering through the sweltering heat.
5 Easy Tips And Tricks You Should Know
These are 5 easy tips and tricks you can practice now to improve your air conditioner’s performance. They might seem insignificant, but they will add up over time and be worth your while.
Changing out your air filters
One of the easiest yet biggest changes you can make is with the air filters. Air filters trap contaminants in the air, visible or not. This includes hair and fur, but also microscopic particles such as dust and smoke that are invisible to the naked eye. As you can imagine, this can build up over time and hamper airflow to the system. A clogged system is never good as this means it has to work harder to achieve the same results.
They are usually located on the ceiling or sometimes near the floor. Generally, you should be changing out the air filters every 2-3 months, depending on various factors. This includes how long you have your HVAC system running and the number of people and pets in the household.
You can also make it a note to clean or vacuum the filters regularly when cleaning the house. Many homeowners do not clean the filters as they are usually located in awkward spots, and thus they tend to get ignored.
Raise the temperature by a couple of degrees
We get it – it just feels great to be blasted with chilly air when the heat is getting too hot to bear. However, you have to consider whether you really need to set the thermostat that low. After all, you only really need room temperature to get comfortable.
It is generally a good idea to reduce the strain on the air conditioner especially during hot days, where it is likely already under high demand. By increasing the temperature just slightly above what you would normally set it to, you can improve your air conditioner’s longevity. This also helps save on energy consumption while still staying cool in the heat.
Leave it on when running errands
I think we have all asked ourselves this question; should I turn off the AC when leaving the home, or should I just leave it running? The common misconception is that leaving it on seems wasteful, as there is no one at home to enjoy the cool air. However, the answer may seem contradictory, because leaving it on actually reduces energy consumption and thus increases performance!
This is because of the way AC units work: the AC works to maintain the temperature you selected on the thermostat. During hot summer days, it has to work harder to achieve that temperature first. Once your home is cooled, maintaining your preferred temperature consumes less energy than reaching it!
Therefore, the temperature inside rises again when you turn it off. All that hard work of lowering the temperature has to be done all over again. Bummer.
However, you can also increase the temperature slightly when leaving the house (see Tip #2) so you reduce energy consumption, even more, when no one is around. This way, the air conditioners have to work less overall throughout the day.
Open up all registers in your home
This is another misconception that is common among many of us. Closing registers may seem like a good idea to redirect air from one room to another and save some money. After all, you’ll only need the cool air where you are right now, right? Wrong.
The fact is, you should be opening up all the registers in your home no matter where it is. This is because your HVAC system is designed in a specific way to optimise airflow through the ducts, vents and registers. By closing registers, you may inadvertently disrupt airflow to important parts of the system.
Get your ducts checked and cleaned frequently
Most importantly, you should always have your HVAC systems checked by professionals on a regular basis. Professional duct cleaning services are very important over the lifespan of the system. Even if your ducts don’t require cleaning, they can help check if your ductwork needs maintenance and prevent any problems from occurring. As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
One less thing to worry about
By following the steps above, you should be set for the summer days ahead. They are simple yet effective to ensure the performance of your air conditioning unit. You should be able to do it yourself at home without much trouble. Doing so would save you money and trouble with your HVAC unit in the long run.
However, if you run into more technical problems, you should seek help from professionals – search for “duct cleaner near me” and get their help. They are more well versed in HVAC maintenance, including cleaning the many components of the system.
If you are looking for duct cleaners near you, DuctMates are your duct cleaning service provider in Melbourne. We offer fully professional services and are ready to answer any questions you may have. Contact us now at 1300 238 287 or fill up the enquiry form for free consultations!