Tips for Maintaining Your Central Air Conditioning
When the weather outside starts getting hot, one home appliance you depend on is the air conditioner. However, you may be in for a shock when you get your first energy bill for the season and see how much you are paying for it. There are things you can do to maintain your home's air conditioner that will help reduce how much energy it uses. Here are some tips you should follow to help avoid an unexpected bill.
Check the Refrigerant Levels
If you were not already aware, central air conditioner works by cycling refrigerant in and out of a home. The refrigerant absorbs the heat found inside your house, then travels outside where the heat is released. This creates cool air that flows through your ductwork. When there is a problem with the refrigerant levels being too low, the system won't pull as much heat from your home and produce warmer air as a result. The entire air conditioning system will run much longer than necessary in an attempt to cool down your home, which means that you'll receive a higher bill for the extended use of the system.
Refrigerant is not something that gets used up and needs to be refilled. The refrigerant may actually be leaking out at some place in the system, which is a problem that needs to be fixed. It is recommended to contact a local HVAC contractor to help you find a refrigerant leak. For example, it sometimes requires putting a special dye in the system that will help the leak be identified. Once the leak is fixed, the system can be refilled with more refrigerant.
Get a Formal Inspection
It is worth having your HVAC system inspected for potential problems each year. Even simple things like lubricating parts and replacing worn belts can go a long way in improving the efficiency of the air conditioner. Any time a part of the system is not working properly, the entire system works harder to cool down your home.
Have the Ductwork Inspected
You may also be losing air through gaps in your ductwork, which means that cool air is leaking into your walls or into rooms that you are not using. You can have the ductwork inspected to find these leaks, and have a professional help fix it for you. Having a properly sealed ductwork system means that all of the cold air is going to be directed to the rooms where you want it the most.
For more information, contact a business that provides air conditioner services.
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