Air conditioners help improve indoor air quality in many homes, but like any other device, it’s prone to wear and tear, which can reduce its life. If not well maintained, its performance can wither away with time, and its life curtailed. Even though air conditioners are not designed to live forever, there are ways to increase their lifespan. Here are five things one can do to prolong the life of an air conditioner.
Unblock Vent to allow Airflow
If the vents inside a house are blocked, it inhibits the free circulation of air. Wallcovering, appliances, and furniture are some of the things that can block vents. This, in turn, makes the air conditioners inordinately overwork, thus increasing the chances of a breakdown. Conversely, ensuring that nothing is blocking the vents can make the air conditioners work without much strain and thus increase their life.
Regular Maintenance
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, many people in the U.S. spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. No one wants to buy keep replacing air conditioners now and then. Regular maintenance of the HVAC system ensures that the air conditioner is operating efficiently and lengthens its life. If a problem had started to develop, it could be identified in good time before it degenerates into a big mechanical problem. Scheduling regular maintenance will prolong the life of the air conditioner life and bolster indoor air quality.
Clean or Change the Air Filter
A clean air filter traps unwanted elements like dust, pollen, animal fur, and bacteria. With time, there is a risk that these elements will clog in the HVAC system and make it difficult for the air to pass through. If these elements clog, the HVAC system has to work harder to force the air through. When the system starts to overwork, it is usually the genesis of many mechanical problems since it uses more effort than necessary.
Regularly cleaning or changing the air filters will make them work effortlessly. It’s Recommendable that one changes the air filter every one to three months to ensure that the grime or dirt is not trapped in the air filter. This will make the air conditioner function efficiently with minimal risk of major mechanical issues, thus increasing its life.
Regulate Temperatures with Window Coverings
One way of ensuring that the air conditioner is not overworking is by looking for other ways of cooling homes without necessarily using the HVAC all the time. Covering a room with blinds, shades, and curtains can help lower the temperatures during the daytime instead of relying on the air conditioner throughout.
Make Use of AC Auto Mode
Some people tend to leave their air conditioners to run at a constant or high speed even when it is not necessary. Auto-setting the air conditioner allows it to operate in line with prevailing temperature rather than leaving the fan to run at a constant speed when it is not necessary. When fan is running at high speed, it accumulates dirt and dust in large quantities. Auto setting mode allows the air conditioner it to moderate the fan usage based on the prevailing temperatures. This ensures that it is not overworking, which helps in prolonging its life.
Use Other Appliances to Minimize the AC Load
There are other appliances like ceiling fans that are used to regulate temperatures. This means one can lower the power setting of the air conditioner because other appliances are serving the same purpose. Curtains and window films can also help reduce the temperature, meaning the load on AC will go down. Back your AC up with the best HEPA air purifier to make breathing pleasant and comfortable.
The life and performance of an AC depend on a host of factors. If used properly, the above methods can improve the condition of an AC and potentially make it last for 15 – 20 years.