No homeowner wants to spend their hard-earned money on a new central air conditioning system. After all, these systems aren't cheap; replacing a residential air conditioning unit can easily cost between $3,350 and $5,912. The good news is that with a little care and maintenance, you can prolong the life of your home's air conditioning system and save yourself some money down the road.
Change Filters Regularly
Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to take care of your air conditioning system year-round is to replace your air filters regularly. A clogged air filter requires your AC to work harder than it should to keep your home comfortable. At the very least, you should be changing your filter out once every few months; if you have pets in your home, you may want to do this even more frequently.
Trim Landscaping Around Your Compressor
Your central air conditioner's outdoor unit is known as the compressor, and it's the most expensive part to replace. You can protect this outdoor unit from wear and tear by making sure all grass, shrubs, and other plants located around it are trimmed back regularly. Otherwise, overgrown landscaping can block airflow and cause the compressor to work harder than it should, which can result in a need for premature repairs.
Schedule an Annual Tune-Up/Inspection
Having a professional HVAC technician come out to your home and perform an annual inspection/tune-up on your air conditioning system is always a good idea. These inspections can reveal the need for small repairs that can prolong the life of your system. Plus, tune-ups often include such services as cleaning fan coils, checking refrigerant lines, and other things that can keep your AC running more smoothly during the warmer months.
Improve Energy Efficiency
Insulating ductwork and caulking gaps around your windows and doors can go a long way in boosting your home's energy efficiency. And when your home is more energy-efficient, your air conditioning system won't have to work as hard to maintain your ideal temperature.
Invest in a Smart Thermostat
If you don't already have a programmable or smart thermostat in your home, now is the time to make this upgrade. A smart thermostat makes it easy to control your indoor temperature settings, even when you're not home. From there, you can set schedules to reduce AC usage while you're away from home (such as while you're at work), which also reduces unnecessary wear and tear on the unit itself.
Reach out to an air conditioning professional for more information.
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