Tips to prevent HVAC malfunctions

While we don’t mind fixing broken air conditioning systems, we love to help our customers in any way we can. One way is by providing some helpful tips that help prevent break-downs in the first place. We know having your HVAC system repaired or replaced is expensive, so we hope these easy tips help keep costs down and keep your system running smoothly for a long time to come.

Outside Tips

Fight Pests

If you’ve lived in Central Texas for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that big bugs are everywhere, especially during the hotter months. Bugs can be drawn to electrical components. This isn’t a good thing, as they can clog everything up and prevent the unit from starting or working properly. An easy fix is to buy some environmentally-friendly pesticide and apply it near the unit.

Shut Down The A/C When Mowing

When you’re mowing the lawn, turn off the thermostat before you get too close to the outside unit. Lawnmowers are great at throwing clippings around, and it’s not that unlikely that some of these clippings can end up inside the unit, which can cause problems.

Inside Tips

A Programmable Thermostat Is Your Friend

If you want to save some money on your electric bill, we highly recommend purchasing a programmable thermostat. According to the EPA, it’s possible to save up to 15% of the electricity used by your home’s air conditioning system. You can also schedule your A/C to have longer cycles, which we’ll talk about next.

Let Your Air Conditioner Run In Longer Cycles

When your air conditioner kicks on, it’s important that it stays running for a decent amount of time so it can remove humidity from the air. If it constantly shuts on and off, you may notice it feels a bit damp or clammy in your home. Plus, if it is constantly shutting off and on, it can cause extra strain on the unit, which adds to the wear and tear. A programmable thermostat can help greatly with this.

Keep Your Vents Open

People think closing vents in rooms they aren’t using helps redirect air to other rooms to keep them cooler. While this is true, it can create extra strain on your system. Instead of closing vents completely, consider leaving them slightly cracked so that the air can flow as it should.

And, possibly the most important tip we can supply:

Keep Your HVAC System Maintained

Regular checkups and tuneups are crucial to keeping your air conditioner running at peak efficiency. Yearly maintenance from professionals can not only extend the life of your unit, but can also help save money on your electric bill.

If you’re interested in more information about HVAC maintenance, contact AirOne Heating and Air Conditioning Repair in San Marcos, TX.