Best Practices for preventing breakdowns and saving money on your Air Conditioning cost this summer:

1.     Change your filter:

Dirty filters can block air flow and can cause your system to break down and cost you more to operate. Make sure you change your filter during the summer at least once a month, however, if you are using the better pleated filters that take more of the particulate out of the air, they are more restrictive than the cheaper fiberglass filters and load faster, so you may need to change them more often.

2.     Keep blinds and curtains closed:

During the hottest part of the day, most heat that accumulates inside the home is directly from the sun shining through the windows. If it is possible to shade the windows from the outside, especially on the east and west side of the home, it makes a big difference in the heat build up in your home.

3.     Service your AC:

Keeping up with routine maintenance on your air conditioning unit can help reduce its energy consumption. A recent “Summer Cooling” survey found that only 30 percent of homeowners schedule preventative maintenance on their AC units, but doing so can pay off. Ensuring your unit is maintained is the most proactive way you can ensure optimal home energy efficiency for warm summer months. You can set up a bi-yearly service on your AC/heating unit and save money over a one-time emergency visit and lower your energy cost as well.

Flushing out the condenser coil (outside coil) is one of the most important steps in the spring service to make sure that your system is running efficiently and that alone can save you as much as 15 – 20% on your cooling costs.