Getting More Life out of Your Air Conditioner

residential elevated outdoor air conditioning unit

Taking good care of your AC can help postpone the need to spring for a new system.

Here are ten ways to get more life out of your AC:

  1. Get regular professional maintenance. When you call Jansen Heating and Cooling, a top air conditioning repair company in Cincinnati for your annual AC check, we will inspect your system, clean the coils, check refrigerant levels and make sure everything is working properly. If you join our Maintenance Club, you will get a reminder when it is time.
  1. Replace air filters every three months. Clogged filters can restrict air flow, reducing efficiency and putting extra strain on your HVAC system. This article explains how to choose the right filter.
  1. Keep your coils clean. Dirt and debris can accumulate on the evaporator and condenser coils, hampering heat transfer and reducing efficiency.
  1. Clean debris from your outdoor unit. If you have central air with an outdoor unit, keep the top free from leaves, grass and branches. Trim vegetation away from the unit.
  1. Keep the air flowing. Make sure vents and registers in your house are clear to allow proper airflow. Blocked vents can lead to uneven cooling, which can strain the system.
  1. Get a programmable thermostat. It can help optimize your AC usage by adjusting temperatures based on your schedule (set the thermostat to a higher temperature in the summer for when you are out of the house; if you are going out of town, consider turning it off altogether). This small investment will reduce the strain on your air conditioner and help lower energy costs.
  1. Keep cool air in. Proper insulation and sealing of your windows, doors and ductwork can help prevent cooled air from escaping, reducing the workload on your AC and keeping energy bills down.
  1. Don’t set the thermostat too low. This can strain the system during super hot weather. Go for a comfortable setting, like 78 degrees, that isn’t a huge difference from the outdoor air temperature.
  1. Call a Cincinnati air conditioning repair company if anything seems off. We will come right away if you call about a Cincinnati AC unit not turning on, or an outside unit not running when the inside is. Prompt attention can prevent expensive damage and extend the lifespan of your system.
  1. Consider shade. If your outdoor unit is located in a shady spot, it will not have to work as hard in the summer.

Practice energy efficiency all year round

Here are some ways to lower your energy bills from NerdWallet:

  • Adjust your fridge and freezer temperature down.
  • Take shorter showers less frequently. For many people, two to three showers a weekis enough for good hygiene and may be even better than a daily shower to maintain good health.
  • Replace your shower head with a low-flow version to use less hot water. With a low-flow showerhead, 175 minutes of showering uses just 262 gallons of water, a 60% reduction on water use compared to a regular shower head.
  • Wash clothes that don’t require hot water in warm or cold.
  • Fix leaky faucets promptly. A faucet or shower head that leaks 120 drips per minute wastes 11 gallons per day, or 330 gallons each month.
  • Adjust the temperature on your water heater down. Many water heaters have a default setting of 140 degrees, but 120 is adequate to prevent bacteria from developing in water standing in the water heater.
  • Purchase energy-efficient appliances and lightbulbs.
  • Get an energy audit to find out where you are wasting energy.

These steps won’t prevent you from eventually having to replace your air conditioner. But they may help you save money now, so when the time comes, you’ll have enough for a new AC.

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West Chester Knows Who to Call for Furnace Repairs

It’s never fun to need an emergency furnace repair in West Chester or anywhere else in Cincinnati, especially on a cold winter night. But Jansen Heating & Cooling is close by in the event you need West Chester help in a hurry. Furnaces and heat pumps can quit unexpectedly, but if you have your regular maintenance done every year by Jansen’s professional technicians, the chance is much less likely. That’s because we thoroughly check your system during our Fall visit, and offer to make small repairs on the spot that could turn in to major problems if not addressed. Smart West Chester homeowners join Jansen’s Maintenance Club so they never forget a maintenance visit (we send members reminders). Club benefits include improved performance and efficiency of your HVAC system, preferred appointments and service discounts. Those preferred appointments can be a literal lifesaver if you find yourself with no heat on a record-cold day.