
When battling the Aussie summers, a well-functioning air conditioner is a necessity. With the hot weather approaching, your air conditioning system needs to be in top condition.
Here are some life-saving tips on how to maintain your AC units.
Tip 1: Cool Your Room When Necessary
Be smart about when you should cool your room. For example, you can turn off your AC system in the morning and at night to let the cool breeze in through the windows. If you don't have a ducted system, try to seal off the AC room with a closed door to contain the cool.
Set up your thermostat with normal temperature, or you might end up paying 10% more power bills for every degree cooler in your thermostat. In short, avoid overusing your AC to lighten the burden on your systems as well as your pocket.
Tip 2: Keep your ear on alert
Is your AC system quiet like always? Or is it making a noise? If you hear strange noises from your system while it's running, don't sit on it. The most common sounds you see are muffled bangs or clanks, usually because of loose or unbalanced parts. Such situations will only worsen with time and increase the internal damage. Immediately contact your service experts to get your system checked out.
Tip 3: Know the Settings
Modern AC system comes with different settings. You can use them for extreme cooling, heating, or moderate temperature. If you want the room temperature to be just pleasant and moderate, you can use the economy mode or its equivalent on your system.
You can also do other cool stuff like timing your thermostat or deciding when your AC should be active.
Tip 4: Keep Your Ductwork Insulated
If you have a ducted system, keep it insulated. If the ductwork is faulty, it will start leaking your precious refrigerant or cold air. Meaning, your AC will burn up power but won't give the desired output. Similarly, ductworks are prone to overheat. Insulation made of foil will keep the system in working condition for a long time.
Tip 5: Don't Forget the Test Runs
Not using your system for a season? That's alright, but don't forget the test runs. Run your system at least once during the inactive season to find out if it is working properly. It would give you a window to take necessary actions if your AC system turned out to be faulty.
Tip 6: Inspect your Air Conditioner System Regularly
Sometimes, we often neglect the most obvious things. Along with following the tips mentioned above, you must inspect your AC system regularly. It's vital to know if your system is working normally. For example, the temperature of the air blowing out should be similar to the temperature going in the return air vent.
If there is a significant temperature difference, your system might need more refrigerant or have a dirty air filter. It's best to change your air filter every three months. It's also essential to get your units serviced by experts such as P&B Air at least once every year.
It's not hard to take care of your air conditioning system. All you need is to be vigilant and have a reputed AC servicing professional's number on your phone.