Wednesday 24 September 2014

Common Air Conditioning Mistakes Which Should be Avoided

Rising mercury has a direct impact on air conditioner usage. The more the air conditioning unit is used, greater remain chances of the system developing snags. Awareness about common air conditioning problems certainly helps ensure optimal energy consumption and comfortable cooling. Listed below are few such common air conditioning mistakes that can easily be avoided:

1.      Skipping maintenance work
A well-maintained air conditioner always works efficiently which becomes evident from the pleasantly cool air that it spreads! Regular maintenance ensures longer life span of the air conditioner. Some work can be done at home like checking duct lines for leakage, cleaning filters and evaporator coil, etc. Never skip or ignore maintenance work. Help is always available in the form of an HVAC technician who can assist you with regular maintenance.

2.      Size misfits
Most people are of the notion that a bigger air conditioner cools better and faster. Even though it is true to an extent, an oversized air conditioner doesn’t generate uniform temperature or reduce humidity. This defeats the whole purpose of using the cooling unit in warm climates. The best option is to refer to Consumer Reports worksheet to help find the right sized air conditioner. An HVAC technician can be consulted too.

3.      Unreasonable thermostat settings
If a thermostat is set too low, then more energy is wasted. Then if it is set too high, then the air conditioner would fail to even turn on or go bust in some cases. To avoid these problems, reasonable thermostat settings are to be adopted. A programmable thermostat best serves this purpose. Another major area of concern is accidental heating up of the thermostat. This usually happens when other electrical appliances like lamps, televisions, refrigerators, etc. are placed close to the air conditioning system. The heat generated by these electronic gadgets causes the thermostat to malfunction inadvertently.

4.      Closure of unused vents and openings
Though it may seem like a good idea to prevent escaping of conditioned air outside, the efficiency of a central air conditioning system might get affected in the longer run. An HVAC expert can be consulted in this regard, especially for the summer months. Another strict no-no would be to close off any room that has a thermostat installed.

5.      Wrong placement of the cooling unit
Most people prefer relatively unused spots to install their air conditioners in homes. However, such placement only puts excess pressure on the unit. Some people choose to place the air conditioning unit behinds shrubs or plants. This hinders ventilation and leads to clogged air filters. Such minor issues ultimately result in decreased efficiency of the air conditioner. An HVAC expert usually suggests the ideal place for cooling system installation, as the east or north side of the house. This is to ensure that the air conditioner is installed in a shady spot and away from direct sunlight.

These above discussed air conditioning mistakes might sound quite simple but most households tend to forget the basic rules while installing/maintaining the unit. Rather than allowing these minor cooling mistakes take a major turn, you should get in touch with a trustworthy HVAC company for unbiased guidance and timely action.

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