3 Tips For Reducing The Strain On Your Air Conditioner

Air conditioners are a great resource during the summer as they can help keep you and your family comfortable and healthy, but having your air conditioner set to a low temperature or having it on all the time can put a lot of strain on the unit. This strain can lead to unit degradation that causes decreased performance or a dead air conditioner. Listed below are three tips that can help you minimize the strain on your air conditioner.

Clean The Air Filter

One of the biggest things that many people overlook when using their air conditioner is cleaning the air filter. Both window-mounted and central air systems will have an air filter that is meant to prevent dust, allergens, and other particles from getting into your home while the unit is on. When your air filter is dirty, the air conditioner will not work as efficiently, which will require it to stay on longer to cool your home to your desired temperature and put a lot of unnecessary strain on the unit as a result.

The air filter on most window-mounted units can easily be accessed and cleaned as they are typically located on the front of the unit. Central air filters can be a bit harder to track down as they are not on the unit itself. Instead they are mounted on one of your walls or to the ceiling, and they will often require a screwdriver to access. The filters stand out though as they usually appear to be a very large air vent.

Block Sunlight

Another easy way to reduce the strain on your air conditioner is to prevent sunlight from getting into your home via the windows. When sunlight enters the home, it will begin to heat up the interior of the home very quickly.

An easy way to prevent this is to utilize solar screens instead of your normal mesh window screens. These screens will keep out pests just as well as a normal screen, but they will also be able to block out a fair amount of sunlight to keep your home cooler since they can intercept up to 70% of solar energy.

Plant Trees

Finally, you will want to consider planting trees around your property if possible to reduce the strain on your cooling system. This approach works because the trees can provide shade that will help prevent sunlight from reaching your windows, roof, or walls. When sunlight strikes your walls and roof, those parts of the home will absorb the heat and radiate it into the rest of the house, which will make your air conditioner work harder to keep the house cool.

Contact an HVAC service like Wright Total Indoor Comfort in order to discuss how to keep your air conditioner in good shape and alleviate the strain put on it in the summer. Cleaning your air conditioner's air filter, blocking sunlight from passing through your windows, and planting trees around your property can reduce the air conditioner's workload so that it is better able to keep your home cool.  

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