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For the Do-It-Yourselfer In YouDon't Give Up on Your AC System,
If your central AC system is around ten years old, it’s a safe bet that within the next couple of years you’ll want and need to think about a new, more energy efficient replacement. But for now, there’s plenty you can do to keep your system up and running like a contender…for another summer’s worth of helping to keep your family cool, comfortable, and safe. Here are a few central air conditioning maintenance tips to help you accomplish just that. Keep It Clear: The big AC unit that sits outside your house is called the condenser and it’s what actually cools the liquid in the coils of your AC. Cooler coils mean cooler air in your house. You’ll want to keep the area around the condenser clear of grass, bushes, leaves and just about everything else so that the fan gets the maximum amount of air that it can. A good rule of thumb is to make sure there is nothing blocking the vents or around the unit for one or two feet in every direction. And be careful to make sure that cut grass isn’t blowing into the unit each time you mow your lawn. Keep It Clean: Different compressors can be cleaned in different ways, but you generally want to make sure that the interior is free of debris on the outside and inside. To clean your air conditioning unit you should always check your service manual first, but there are some general steps that apply to all units. First, make sure you turn off the power to the unit before cleaning. Most units can be cleaned with a hose sprayed from the top down, washing any dirt or debris from the inside. You also might want to remove one side panel of the compressor and then take a broom or rake and whisk away any leftover debris or leaves that have been washed down to the bottom. Keep It Cool: The U.S. Department of Energy recommends shading your central AC unit so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to cool the coils inside it. Planting a shade tree near (but not too near) the unit is a great idea. According to the U.S. Department of Energy this one action could save you up to 10% on your cooling bill! Keep It Consistent: Don’t turn your AC unit on and off because that can burn out the interior switches and sometimes even mess up your thermostat. You’re better off setting your thermostat temperature and letting the air conditioning catch up and do its job without your interference. To save even more money you can use and automatic thermostat which you can program to change the temperature to be a little warmer in your house when you’re typically awayduring the day. Keep It Checked: Check your AC filter once a month and clean or replace it as necessary…you’ll know just from looking at it. Also, look around for any leaks in the hoses or air ducts. You’d be shocked at how often you’ll find loose ducts with small gaps and tiny air leaks around older duct work.
Keep It Charged and Serviced: Even after all these checks on your own, you’re sometimes better off having a professional come in and look things over, especially if you suspect any problems. As always, Frank & Lindy is ready to lend a hand.
Don’t Have Time to Do it Yourself? At the same time, and if you haven’t already done so, Spring is the perfect time to have your system tuned up and inspected. Ours is a 23-point process…as thorough as it is professional. And now, we invite you to save $80 on a Frank & Lindy tune-up and inspection with the coupon below. During our tune-up, we’ll also replace your filter (standard sizes only) for FREE. Stay tuned next month for another do-it-yourself project to help you save money on your plumbing and other household repairs.
914-930-4922
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