Having air conditioning in Jacksonville is essential to surviving the Florida heat, especially in the hot summer months. If you want to stay cool in summer and warm in the winter, it is important to avoid some of the most common air conditioning and heating mistakes. By following some of the tips mentioned below, you can feel confident that your HVAC system is always running efficiently, and that small problems don’t develop into larger ones in the future.
Having the Wrong-Sized Unit for Your Home
No doubt you have heard the saying, “bigger isn’t always better.” This definitely applies to air conditioning units. Buying a bigger unit than your home actually needs will not cool down your house faster. In fact, because it is not properly sized, a bigger unit may constantly power on and off causing it to run inefficiently, leaving you with constant uncomfortable changes in temperature. This also applies to using an undersized unit to cool your home. Since a smaller unit is not able to properly cool your house down, it may burn itself out in a shorter amount of time.
Having your AC Unit Installed in the Wrong Place
While your AC may not add curb appeal, hiding it behind shrubs or trees is still not the most ideal location. In fact, hiding your unit can actually impact its ability to run efficiently. The harder your AC has to work to cool your home, the higher your heating and cooling bills may run and the greater the chance your unit may overheat and burn itself out. Instead, find a location that does not receive direct sunlight and is shrubbery-free. This will help improve ventilation and ensure your unit always runs properly.
Not Running your AC Properly
If you think shutting your AC off for long periods of time will save you money, you might want to reconsider. The same applies for running your AC at full capacity all day long, especially when no one is home. Leaving the unit idle can actually cause mold to grow, which can eat away at your AC causing it to stop working all together. Running it at full blast wastes a ton of electricity and costs you more money. Instead, invest in a programmable thermostat or WIFI-controlled thermostat which allows you to program different temperature settings throughout the day or to run your AC when you are away from home.
Not Utilizing Your Ceiling Fans
You may not think you need to use ceiling fans when you have the AC running, but actually ceiling fans are designed to work with your AC. They help your AC run more efficiently because they are better able to move air around the room, especially in larger or the more widely used rooms of your home. This also helps to keep you feeling cooler, especially in those hot Jacksonville temperatures. Not only does it improve your AC’s efficiency, it also saves you money because it can lower your utility bill. To get the most out of your ceiling fan use, be sure to run fans downward or counter-clockwise during the hotter months, and upward or clockwise during the cooler months.
Forgetting About Proper Maintenance or Ignoring AC Issues
The best way to avoid having a major problem with your AC is to have it properly maintained. One of the most important aspects to this process is changing your air filter regularly. Dirty air filters make it harder for your AC to run properly. Also be sure to have your local technician come out to your home at least once a year to check all of your AC’s components, both inside and outside of your home. These important maintenance checks will save you money in the long run and ensure that your AC is running at its most efficient. Additionally, if you encounter a problem with your AC at any time, don’t wait until the small problem becomes a larger one. Early intervention will not only save you money, but it can also prevent the chance of having to replace your entire AC system.
