There are many ways that you could be shortening the life of your air conditioner or degrading the quality of its performance—and some of them aren’t very obvious. Here are four actions you should avoid if you want to enjoy your A/C’s cooling air for as long as possible.
Making Your A/C Work Hard Too Quickly
If you’re turning on your air conditioner for the first time for the season, and it’s 85 degrees outside—for instance, don’t set the A/C to 65 degrees and make your unit work hard right from the start.
Instead, begin slowly—just 5 to 10 degrees lower than the outside temperature, so that you don’t overwork your system. Gradually adjust the thermostat to your desired setting, but be sure that the temperature isn’t more than 20 degrees cooler than outside—because your unit may seldom rest, which can accelerate wear and tear, and increase your energy bill.
Running Your System When You’re Not Home
If you’re not going to be home for a while, turn your system off and restart it when you return. Although your plan is to come home to a cool house, you can end up straining your unit.
Most air conditioners have a programmable timer, and you can set it to turn on just before you get home. If your system is newer it may allow remote access where you can use your cell phone to switch on your A/C via WiFi.
Neglecting to Clean the Outside Unit
If your air conditioning system has an outdoor component, be sure to give it regular attention. Remove any weeds, vines, or debris that may be growing on or near your unit. These could be limiting its ventilation and performance.
Causing Your A/C to Cycle Constantly
An oversized A/C unit may be able to blast your home with cool air, but this can easily backfire. A bigger unit may cool a room too fast, and as a result cycle on and off more often and incur more wear and tear—causing you to spend more on maintenance and repairs. It’s better to install a unit that’s properly sized for your home.
