Make Your Air Conditioner Last Longer

Air conditioners are not created equal and there are different sizes and types of residential units. After years of watching my dad fix our air conditioner and replace a unit once, he gave me just a few small details that would help a family make their unit last longer. Dad's challenge was always to see how long he could make something last, so that way while everyone else was complaining on how much they spent, Dad was talking about how much he saved with a few simple tips he learned from his father.

One of the biggest problems people face with their air conditioning units, is not having the right size. I discovered that a homebuilder here in Cincinnati was actually cutting corners on a new development when families were cropping up with problems with their air conditioning units. After calling in a technician, the common response was, "the unit that was installed is not the correct size for your square footage". How interesting that a builder would not make sure that this unit was the correct size. I guess they figured if someone liked the idea of saving money, they would be okay with it, only to find out that the one detail the builder left out was that the unit would eventually fail because it can't carry the work of a larger room. Be sure that when buying a home, you have the inspection done by someone you trust. This could potentially cost you thousands of dollars in repairs and eventually grumpy family members in the dead of summer.

Another few tips I thought were interesting, I found on a website called webhvac.com. One tip was to install ceiling fans in every room. This way, when it's not so hot, you can run the ceiling fans without having to use your unit right away. This is a tough one when you live in an apartment because most apartments don't offer a ceiling fan. It really just depends. Most newer complexes are starting to catch on.

The second tip on webhvac.com I found helpful, wash the outside of the condensing unit every month. This sounds like a real chore, but if you are reminded by the cost of replacing your unit it might motivate you to put this duty on your list. This articles suggests pairing it with another favorite household chore for most. Anytime you cut your grass, get into the habit of hosing the condensing unit down.

If you have your unit serviced twice a year, you are sure to catch any problems in their wake. This was also suggested by webhvac.com. Finding problems early on will prevent further damage. This is like getting service done to your vehicle. It's a necessary evil, but without it you are sure to have problems if they just keep piling up. Problems with any type of machinery are sure to start a chain reaction and make things more expensive down the road.

Ehow.com, suggests installing a thermostat. That way, you can monitor the temperature and what you really need to have it set to. Having it fun too cold will suck the life out of your unit. Don't make it work harder than it has to. The other key to keeping it problem free is changing your filter once a month. Most people don't do this, but I highly suggest it too. About a year and a half ago, I moved out of a building that was built in 1900. The air condition was working hard naturally as a result of it being an order building with more space to cover as I was on the second floor of a three story building. This building was brick, but it had high ceilings, and the windows were so old that it wasn't well insulated. I had to change my filters every 30 days even though I had the 90 day filters. It was well worth it, because at one point I still had trouble with my furnace when winter came. That was probably a result of not having it serviced twice a year either, but I would say all in all to give yourself the best quality airflow, you really do want to make sure that filter is changed out every month.

Investing in good installation for your home is a huge contributor to saving your unit as well. Just think about it; if your home is well insulated, you may not feel the sun as much depending on where your home sits. If you have a window unit and you live in an apartment, there isn't much you can do to change that. However, good insulation goes a long way.