When Your Air Conditioner Won't Work

When Your Air Conditioner Won't Work

3 Maintenance Tasks To Keep Your Air Conditioner Cool

by Clara Fernandez

If the sweet relief a functioning air conditioner can provide from a hot summer day is of value to you, then proper air conditioning maintenance is a must. With the average national cost of replacing an air conditioning unit being $5,000 (with most homeowners reporting they pay between $3,500 and $7,000), keeping your unit running properly is a good way to stay cold and save money.

Here are three things you should know how to do when it comes to caring for your air conditioning unit in the future.

1. Change The Filter

A dirty filter can seriously compromise your air conditioner's efficiency. Keeping a fresh filter in your air conditioning unit at all times will prevent unnecessary wear and tear, while saving you money on your monthly utility expenses.

If you have pets that shed, you might need to change your filter as often as once a month in order to keep clean air circulating through your air conditioning unit. In the absence of pets or people with allergies in the home, swapping out your filter every 4-6 months should be sufficient. Completing this maintenance task is easy, and detailed instructions can be found in the user's manual that came with your air conditioner.

2. Patch Holes In Your Ducts

When holes appear in your ducts, cooled air can seep out before it reaches its intended destination within your home. This could result in increased utility costs, since your air conditioning unit will need to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature.

You can eliminate these holes by investing in a spool of aluminum sealing tape. Begin applying tape a few inches above the hole, working with 6 inch tape strips to prevent errors. Once you have made three passes with the tape across the hole, your duct should work as good as new,

3. Replace Worn Insulation

Many homeowners wrap their ducts in insulation to keep both hot and cold air moving efficiently throughout the home. This insulation should be checked on a regular basis to ensure it is still working properly.

In the average home, around 20% of heated or cooled air flowing through the HVAC system is lost due to leaks and poor insulation. Once you have selected the type of duct insulation that is best suited to meet your needs, begin working from your air conditioner outward to ensure that you maximize your insulation efforts.

Keeping your air conditioning unit running properly will not only save you money on your monthly utility costs, but replacing dirty filters, patching holes in ducts, and replacing worn insulation will allow you to enjoy cool air all summer long. For more information, contact a local HVAC company like United Heating Cooling and Plumbing Inc


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About Me

When Your Air Conditioner Won't Work

My name is Maura, and I am certified in HVAC installation and repair. I have many clients who call me in a panic because they have turned on their air conditioners and nothing has happened. Your air conditioning technician will get to you as soon as possible, but there are some steps you can take while you are waiting. You might just find that you are able to fix the problem on your own, although you will still want to have a professional assess the situation. In this blog I will take you through some common reasons your air conditioner might not be working and show you some easy temporary solutions.

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