Having maintenance done on your air conditioning system every year is the best way to prevent system failure at the worst possible time.
Our Minnesota climate goes from extremely cold to extremely hot:
“Summer will be hotter and drier than normal, with drought a possibility. The hottest periods will occur in early July and early and mid-August.” – Farmer’s Almanac, 2014
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Here it comes again — another season of dreaded utility bills. The “polar vortex” likely pushed your furnace to near breakdown. Now with summer weather upon us, steamy heat and humidity will put your home’s air conditioner to the test, including electricity bills that could once again send your budget out of control.
If your air conditioning system doesn’t have the routine maintenance up to date, typically you can expect to have breakdowns. Every year our recommendation for spring is maintenance. The biggest concerns we always have when it comes to air conditioning system operation are safety and efficiency.
Here are things you can do to prevent an air conditioning repair:
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months in the summer. If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep you cool — wasting lots of energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and early system failure. Order your filters online and get them delivered to your door.
Tune up your air conditioning system yearly. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Click here to learn about the 3 Ways to know you are getting a great A/C Tune-up.
Install a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat is ideal for most homeowners who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
Here is how you can set your programmable thermostat and start saving.
Consider installing ENERGY STAR-qualified cooling equipment. If your air conditioning system is more than 10 years old or is not keeping your home comfortable, have it evaluated by an ENERGY STAR partner. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. But before you invest in a new air conditioner, make sure that you have addressed the distribution system (ducts) in your home. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than the A/C itself.