A modern central air conditioning system can cost upwards of $4000 or more, depending on the size of the home and the complexity of the layout and ducting. While the replacement of your system is surely inevitable at some point, most central air systems typically have a lifespan of around fifteen years. This lifespan can easily be shorter or longer depending on how well or how poorly the system is maintained, so homeowners should strive to do everything that they can in order to ensure that their system lasts as long as possible.
Fortunately, keeping your air conditioning system on track and functioning properly takes very little time or effort on your part and can be done quite simply and efficiently. Listed below are ten simple ways that you can extend the lifespan of your central air conditioner right now.
- Use alternative cooling methods whenever possible. It may sound silly or obvious, but the less that you use your air conditioning, the less it will have to work and the longer it will last. While not always practical for every situation or in extreme heat, there are a few simple cooling alternatives that you can install easily in your home – ceilings and floor fans, heavy blinds and drapes, and even a fresh coat of paint in a cool, dark color can all effectively reduce the need for constantly running the air conditioning in your home.
- Keep the external AC unit out of direct sunlight. If your AC unit is outside and under direct sunlight, then it will have to work even harder to cool your house because it will have to cool itself first. A simple way to solve this is to keep the AC unit in the shade, and if there is no shade available, to plant small trees at a distance close enough to give the AC some cover without smothering the unit with any leaves or debris.
- Keep the external AC unit clear. The part of the AC that sits outside your house in your backyard or driveway is also called the condenser, and is a part that can be extremely susceptible to problems in its environment. While these units are designed to be weather-resistant, they are still easily damaged by falling leaves, sticks, or grass clippings when landscaping is too close by. While nearby trees are good for condensers to a certain extent because of the shade that they provide, it’s still a good idea to check the condenser frequently to make sure nothing is gumming up the works and forcing the AC to work harder than it needs to.
- Keep interior cooling vents clear and free of blockage. Just as you need to keep the exterior AC unit clear from debris, the interior vents must also have clear pathways out into the rooms in order to work effectively. In order to keep pathways clear, simply move any furniture in the way of wall units and make sure that nothing is covering floor vents. While it may seem obvious, make sure that all vents are open when the AC is running or you could just be flushing your hard earned money down the drain.
- Change your AC filters as recommended. Check the recommendations of the manufacturer, but most will recommend that you change your AC filters every 30-60 days. This of course will vary heavily depending on your location, how often you use your air conditioner, and the overall quality of the air in your area. While it may seem costly to replace your filters so frequently, it will definitely save you money in the long run and prevent you from having to replace the entire system sooner than expected.
- Clean the AC unit frequently and regularly. There’s no set or recommended schedule for cleaning out your unit, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific protocol. All air conditioning units are similar to each other in some ways, but also very different from each other in others, so refer to your manual extensively before you go about cleaning the unit. While it usually only takes a garden house and broom to successfully clean out an AC unit, some small parts are fragile and easily damaged, so take care. Also make sure to keep yourself safe during the cleaning by turning off the power to your unit beforehand – especially important if you’re using water to clean the device.
- Ensure that all seams and ducts are properly insulated. Loose seams and leaking ducts are a surefire way to shorten the lifespan of your AC system and guarantee its replacement sooner than expected. Proper maintenance of your ducts and seams can ensure that cool air is not lost before it reaches its proper destinations throughout your household.
- Properly ventilate your home when using appliances that produce heat. Whether you are aware of it or not, many of your household appliances naturally give off heat during their use. This can include anything from using the heat-dry cycle on your dishwasher to simply baking something in your oven. Know when to use your kitchen and bathroom exhaust vents to expel hot air so that the heat they produce is not simply canceling out the cool air brought in by your AC.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat. While we’d all like to believe that we are capable of monitoring our AC systems manually, this is unfortunately not usually the case. By having a thermostat that you can program around your work schedule or certain times of day when your home is naturally cooler, then you not only can give your AC unit a break at times when it needs them the most, but you can take a lot of the worry out of maintaining your system as well. Never again do you have to be concerned about whether or not you left the AC on while away, only to come home to find that you slowly wasted your money throughout the day.
- Have your system regularly serviced by a professional. Perhaps the single greatest thing you can do to lengthen the life of your air conditioning unit is to have it checked out and tuned up as recommended. Unless you are an air conditioning system expert yourself, you likely won’t be able to spot the same potential problems as a trained professional, one who can identify and prevent serious issues before they even start. Performing any necessary repairs to your current unit can not only increase its overall longevity, but also increase its efficiency and effectiveness throughout the year.
If you’re in the Southwest Florida area and looking for a team of friendly professionals to service and tune up your unit on a regular basis, increasing both your unit’s performance and lifespan, then give the experts at All Day Air Cooling & Heating a call at (239) 357-0727. Whatever your heating or cooling needs, All Day Air has the experience, skills, and tools to keep you covered and comfortable in your home in Southwest Florida.
