Tips on keeping your air conditioner running efficiently

Tag : Performance Air Filters

 Midsummer is the worst time for something to go wrong with your airconditioner.
A little prevention and maintenance can help you keep your cool,said Richard Trethewey, plumbing and heating/cooling expert on thePBS classic "This Old House" and "Ask This Old House" series.
Not taking care of your air conditioner can cause it to run harderand longer, which can lead to higher energy bills and damage thatonly an expensive professional can fix.
Here are tips to save you aggravation, energy and money.
The basics A central air conditioner has two components: the condenser, whichis outdoors on a concrete slab, and the evaporator coil, which isinside connected to the ductwork. Hot air indoors is pulled intothe return air duct, where it is cooled over the evaporator coilsand sent back into the house. The condenser unit sends coolant intothe evaporator coils.
What you can do The evaporator and condenser coils are usually sealed and should behandled professionally.
"The key to air conditioning is air," Trethewey said. "You have tokeep air moving through the system."
The easiest way to do this is by checking the filter regularly.Most of the time, Trethewey said, changing the filter at the startand end of the air-conditioning season will suffice. But if yourhome is dusty, or if you have pets with fur/dander, you shouldcheck monthly and change the filter as needed.
Sometimes, Trethewey said, people take out the filter and don'treplace it. Bad move. All those airborne particles will catch inthe cooling coils and clog them. That, he said, leads to terribleperformance and the need for a pro to come out and unclog them.
That, he said, leads to terrible performance and the need for a proto come out and unclog them.