Are you having trouble with your air conditioner? Anyone living in Houston, TX, knows how unforgiving the summer heat can be. Those hot months are so brutal and the only way to feel comfortable is to keep your home’s AC running.
But what do you do if your AC unit can’t get the job done? It’s not uncommon for air conditioning systems to lose their power over time. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to fix the issues as they arise.
So here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about your air conditioner and how to keep it blowing cold all summer long.
How an AC Unit Works
Air conditioners bring in warm air from outside and cool it within the unit. They then disperse the air into your home as crisp, chilled air.
That’s the basic cooling equation, whether you have a portable air conditioner or central AC. But for as simple as it sounds, several small, complex pieces on the inside work hard to make it all possible.
Various parts all play vital roles in your AC’s functionality. For example, you need sufficient refrigerant, which is the liquid primarily responsible for cooling the air.
You also need clean air filters, which facilitate smooth airflow from the exterior to the interior. Lastly, your AC’s coils need to be in good shape to control the air temperature.
Your air conditioner’s exterior parts will also make or break how well it runs. For example, let’s imagine your air ducts are loose or damaged. In that case, most of the cooled air will leak out before it reaches you.
Your air conditioner can lose its effectiveness for several reasons. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to counter wear and tear and extend the comfort within your home.
DIY Air Conditioner Performance Enhancing Tips
Some air conditioning issues require special AC maintenance like tune-ups or repairs from a skilled HVAC expert. However, there are some ways you can boost your HVAC’s performance abilities on your own with minimal work.
1. Start cooling before you need it: Regardless of how new or high-tech your AC unit is, it will need to run for a length of time before that cold air takes effect. So if you start running your air conditioner before you need it, it will always greet you with perfectly chilled air.
2. Keep the unit clean: Air conditioners with clogged air filters and dirty outdoor components have to work twice as hard when cooling your home. A filthy unit needs to power through a layer of debris to perform basic functions. Changing the air filter and gently wiping the components down monthly goes a long way.
3. Help the AC out with a fan: Air conditioners are great at producing cold air and it certainly doesn’t hurt to help them spread it through the house. You can either place a standing fan in front of a vent or turn your ceiling fans on throughout the house.
Benefits of Expert Air Conditioner Tune-ups & Maintenance
The best way to keep your air conditioner blowing cold air is to properly maintain the system and schedule the occasional expert tune-up. You can rely on the help of a licensed, certified HVAC professional in Houston, TX.
The quick home cooling fixes we mentioned above do provide minor cooling improvements. However, professional AC services can leave you with unbeatable benefits, including:
- Improved performance: Using a fan, turning the AC on early, and cleaning the unit monthly will cool your house more effectively. However, pairing that with an annual maintenance appointment will offer much more significant benefits. A professional technician will examine, clean, and tune up every interior and exterior component of your air conditioner to ensure optimal performance.
- Energy savings: When every part of an AC works perfectly, it requires less energy to cool your home. That means faster and more effective cooling without having to leave your air conditioner on all day.
- Reduced need for repairs: Without regular maintenance, interior and exterior parts can wear down quickly and leave you in need of costly repair services. But if you keep your air conditioner well-tuned throughout the year, its parts should run smoothly until the next maintenance check. AC maintenance is far cheaper than paying for most regular repairs.
Consult an Expert on Your Air Conditioner’s Performance
Is your AC unit not cooling the way it should during Houston, TX’s hot summers? You might need help from a professional HVAC technician to bring it back to life. There isn’t a team in Houston more qualified than Dave Lane’s Hi-Tech Mechanical Inc.
Our experienced team offers several top-rated air conditioner services. We do repairs, replacements, maintenance, tune-ups, and installations. No matter your AC needs, our team will be ready to answer the call.
We work hard to keep your air conditioner running smoothly and we work even harder to keep our services affordable. Call our friendly team today at (713) 960-4269 to schedule an appointment. With one AC maintenance appointment, we can significantly boost your air conditioner’s performance.