If you have endured even one of our Central Texas summers, then you know that keeping cool is a priority for everyone. It’s no wonder that a common concern for Texans is having their AC unit go out during those summer months where temperatures can reach record high levels of 110 degrees for weeks on end. With such a hot and often lengthy season, it’s important to maintain your air conditioner and adapt a few habits that can help prolong its life. That way, you and your family can enjoy a comfortable home for years to come!

Regular Maintenance

Just like you wouldn’t expect to drive your vehicle for years on end without regularly changing the oil, rotating the tires, and the occasional tune up, your HVAC system needs the same type of TLC to keep running properly through the different seasons year after year. By scheduling an HVAC technician to come inspect your unit at least once a year, you are likely going to end up saving yourself a lot of hassle and money in the long run. Our technicians are highly trained and will be able to identify underlying issues before they escalate to costly repairs, and we can keep your HVAC unit finely tuned and running smoothly all year long!

Keep Air Vents Open

As a method to save money on cooling, many people will opt to close the vents in unused rooms. Unfortunately, this increases the pressure in the air ducts and actually puts more of a strain on the system as a whole. Your air conditioner will end up working harder in an effort to cool the whole house, which is more difficult with vents closed off. By keeping all the vents open, even in rooms that are not being used, the air is able to move freely throughout your house and your air conditioning system will continue working for a longer period of time.

If you are certain you only want certain areas of your home at certain temperatures, consider discussing home zoning with your HVAC technician.

Clean The Outdoor Unit

It is easy to forget about the outdoor unit, but remembering to keep any bushes or weeds trimmed back can help you prolong the life of the system. This is especially true during the autumn months when leaves are falling from any over hanging trees. Cleaning out all the leaves and twigs that might find their way onto or into the outdoor unit once a week can really save you a lot of trouble down the road, and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Change Air Filters

Changing the air filters is another task that is easy to forget, but remembering to do it regularly can greatly improve the quality of the air in your home and prolong the life of your unit. On the off seasons, you should change your filters every 3 months, but during heavy use seasons like summer time, you should aim to change them out every single month. This will prevent your unit from having an unnecessary strain, and it will help minimize the amount of dust, pet dander, and other contaminants from circulating throughout your home. This will help keep both your AC unit and your family healthy all year long!

Looking for more tips on how to keep your air conditioner running at peak efficiency this summer? Contact AirOne Heating & Air Conditioning, your HVAC Company in San Marcos, TX and ask to speak to a technician who can help.