The biggest mistake we see our customers make is forgetting during the cool spring days that the hot winds of summer are soon to follow. TruTemp Heating and Air Conditioning doesn’t want our customers to wait too long and find themselves in an emergency. Below are four great strategies to help keep an air conditioning unit in tip-top shape all year long.
1. Filters make the world go round
One of the major causes of most breakdowns is the failure to change the filter in AC Units. Many customers don’t seem to understand that a dirty filter does not only affect the immediate cooling effectiveness, but it overworks the unit every day to reach the required output ratio to keep an area cool. Just like the difficulty a person has breathing in a dust storm, an air conditioning unit must take shallow breaths through a dirty filter to function properly.
2. The thermostat is a lifesaver
We encourage our clients to invest in a programmable thermostat. With one, the temperature can be set slightly warmer while no one is present, and be programmed to cool right before people arrive. This rests the unit very well and protects it from the grind of working constantly.
3. Insulation, the secret to it all
One of the greatest weapons in defeating heat without overusing an AC Unit is strong insulation. A major myth is that thick insulation only protects against the cold, but this is simply not true. A properly insulated structure is much easier to contain heat and cold air from the outside elements causing less use of both heating and cooling units to be needed.
4. Leave some space for your best friend the AC
The first item we check off when doing an inspection is that there is nothing up close to the outside portion of an AC unit. Customers often forget that an air conditioner needs to breathe and shrubbery, no matter how decorative it looks on a building’s façade can, in fact, smother the output of the unit. Keeping at least two feet of space clear around the unit is ideal.
By following these simple tips, anyone can keep their air conditioning unit in much better shape all year long. No one wants to be caught off guard and without cool air in the middle of August, but if the emergency does occur, they always know who to call. At TruTemp, we want every family in Pittsburgh to have a comfortable and safe summer. If there is a problem with a unit at a business or home, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and let us do what we do best.