Does this sound familiar?. A heat wave is covering the Calgary area and the air conditioner in your home is blowing out warm air or stops running entirely. Along with hundreds of other people in our town, you pick up the phone to call your HVAC specialist, and suffer with the heat until they arrive. While not all A/C problems can be prevented, here are a few tips that can be used to minimize the chance of this happening to you this summer.
Max-Out the Air Flow
To work properly, your air conditioner needs to pull air through the system, including recirculating air inside your home. If this process is obstructed in any way, it can result in trouble and repair costs. To assure you have the manufacturer suggested air flow, make sure to keep space around the vents - indoors and outside. This includes scaling back vegetation and cleaning dirt away from vents.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Beyond helping reduce energy costs by regulating your home’s temperature, programmable thermostats can also help minimize impact on your system. Adjust the temperature of your home to run less when you are at work or school, and automatically increase to a desired temperature when you are actually in the home.
In addition, program your thermostat for longer run-cycles. While this does not necessary prevent problems, it can help bring down the humidity in your Calgary area home. This can offer a more comfortable environment, in addition to keep mold spores from thriving in your home.
Keep Pests at Bay
For some reason certain bugs and pests are attracted to air conditioning units, which can be detrimental if they get inside the system. To keep ants and other pests away, use an eco-friendly pesticide around the base of the unit and check on it regularly throughout the summer.
Stay Level
The majority of outdoor A/C units are situated on a concrete slab or other platform, giving them a level base of operation. However, over time these can settle or sag, hindering the performance of the air conditioner. Check on your outdoor component to make sure that the base continues to stay level.
Naturally, regular maintenance, such as lubrication and filter changes, are pretty important to keep your air conditioner operating as it should. Make sure to schedule system maintenance review before the summer starts to ensure your system is ready to face the hot days ahead. Keeping these tips in mind, you may be able to avoid A/C problems and have a stress-free and climate controlled home all summer.