Keeping Your Cool: 3 Keys to Dependable, Efficient, Long AC & Heat Pump Life!
Some home AC systems seem to last forever, while others don’t stand the test of time as well. Why? Some of the key elements that determine how a central or mini-split air conditioner or heat pump (also an AC system) will fair, over time, include the design and quality of the equipment, the attention to detail taken during installation, proper sizing of the equipment, and also the system’s operating conditions during its lifetime.
In this blog post from our comfort team at Save Home Heat Company, we’ll focus on three key factors in the ‘Operating Conditions’ category, which can make a big difference in how much it costs to run your cooling system, how dependable it will be, and how long the equipment will last before it needs to be replaced. This discussion applies as equally to heat pumps as it does to conventional air conditioners, so for convenience sake, please don’t be surprised if below we refer to them simply as ‘AC systems.’
#1: Reduce Stress on the System
When your system is forced to work harder than necessary in order to maintain indoor comfort levels, as alluded to above, the additional stress on the equipment can rear its head in a number of costly ways. Reducing stress on an air conditioner or heat pump can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Combined, the following practices can make life a lot more palatable for your equipment – and your wallet, too.
Regular Filter Changes!
This is probably the single most important thing homeowners can do to help out their AC or heat pump system. Regular air filter changes (or cleaning) are essential for maintaining proper airflow and avoiding potential refrigerant imbalances. A clean filter allows your system to efficiently deliver cool air throughout the home with minimal resistance, while also helping you achieve cleaner indoor air. In the case of central systems, we’re referring to the furnace (or air handler) air filter; with mini-split systems, the air filter is normally a permanent, cleanable media filter located in the indoor blower unit/s.
Worth being aware of, there may be high efficiency air filter upgrades available, which can provide even greater protection for the indoor component (the evaporator coil, or A coil), allowing it to do its job as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Inspect the Outdoor Condensing Unit!
Routinely inspecting the outdoor condensing unit can also make a big difference in reducing stress on your AC system. The focus of a homeowner visual inspection of the outdoor unit is to make sure the aluminum fins aren’t getting clogged or heavily loaded with debris such as dirt and dust, leaves and branches, or other airborne odds and ends.
Just like with the indoor evaporator coil, if the outdoor condenser coil gets clogged, this will negatively impact efficiency and your utility bills, and place undue stress on the system.
While it’s far more effective to have an experienced service tech hose out the condenser coil from the inside of the unit out (removing cage/covering), some homeowners choose to hose down the unit’s outdoor coil, from the outside, periodically during the cooling season. **While our service team at Save Home Heat does not professionally recommend this practice (liability concerns; also not as effective), if you choose to do this, be sure to TURN OFF POWER to the system before proceeding. Otherwise, we’re glad to assist and take care of it for you!
Additional stress-reducing strategies include:
- Reduce direct solar gain during the day by using shades or curtains, planting shade trees, and/or installing exterior awnings
- Install attic ventilators to remove excess heat buildup in the attic and prevent heat from radiating downward into the living space. These are available in both conventional 120-volt and solar-powered options
- Install ceiling fans to maximize air circulation. This can increase comfort levels and may allow you to raise your thermostat setting a little. ‘Casablanca-style’ ceiling fans are a good fit for great rooms and living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining areas, and more
- Is your home well-insulated? Adding more insulation to your home (such as in the attic or walls), if feasible, is another proven way to lighten the load on an AC system
#2: Operating Your System Efficiently – Thermostat Settings
While it might seem like a good idea to crank the thermostat way up when you’re gone during the day, pushing the temperature too high can backfire on you. Depending on the circumstances, many experts suggest raising the thermometer setting anywhere from 3 and 8 degrees when you’re gone from home during the day during the summer.
This range is broad for a number of logical reasons. Consider the following questions: Is it 80°F or close to 100°F outside? Does your home get a lot of direct sunlight, ie. solar gain? How well does your home maintain temperature when the shades, blinds, and curtains are shut? How long does it take for your AC system to get the house down back down to your desired comfort level, on an average summer day?
Balancing comfort, efficiency, and stress-free performance
The key here is balance: You don’t want to set the temperature so high when you’re gone that your system has to work excessively long and hard trying to cool things down when you return. For example, if it’s 97°F outside and the sun is blazing, expecting your system to drop the indoor temperature by 8 or 9 degrees rapidly might be asking an awful lot, and potentially place undue stress on the system. At that point, the potential cost savings on utility bills might be offset by repair costs or a reduced equipment lifespan.
So, the right thermostat ‘setup’ temp setting for you can vary depending on conditions and circumstances. If you have pets, indoor plants, or sensitive electronics in your home, they may also impact your decision. Our service team at Save Home Heat routinely offers homeowners advice on how to most efficiently and effectively operate their cooling systems, and help them find that sweet spot, balancing home comfort with effective, efficient, low-stress system performance.
#3: Professional Annual Cooling Maintenance
This is a drum that our service team at Save Home Heat Company bangs regularly throughout the year for good reason. Having professional, detailed maintenance performed on your cooling and heating systems annually can save you money in several ways. A properly tuned up, efficient running system means lower monthly utility bills and an assist in helping to avoid unforeseen repair visits. Plus, regular annual maintenance is the best way to help ensure long equipment life, protecting your home comfort investment.
What to expect in an AC tune-up
When annual maintenance is performed on an air conditioner or heat pump, there’s a wide range of things that our service techs inspect and do. At the top of the list, and implicit in everything we do, is ensuring our customers’ safety, at all times. Here’s some highlights of the important service procedures that our team performs:
- Check refrigerant charge: Using special pressure gauges while operating the system, we check gas pressures in the system and if necessary, make adjustments to ensure optimal efficiency and performance. If additional costs are involved, those are reviewed with the homeowner before proceeding; customer approval is required before performing that additional work
- Inspect & check electrical components: Your technician also inspects and tests the performance of all electrical components, including the contactor and the compressor (the heart of the system) in the outdoor unit, in order to ensure that each element is operating within specified ranges
- Confirm furnace filter is clean & installed correctly: We replace or clean the indoor air filter, as needed, and make sure that no air can bypass the filter, which is crucial to performing its important role of protecting the indoor coil (a magnet for dust!)
- Inspect & clean the outdoor coil: As mentioned above, the outdoor condensing unit also has a fin-tube coil that must be kept clean and unobstructed in order for your cooling system to operate effectively and efficiently. Unlike the indoor coil, there’s no air filter to protect it from buildup. Annual maintenance also includes inspection and cleaning of the outdoor condenser coil, as needed
- Cycle system from the thermostat: After the above and other important checklist items are completed, our service technician cycles the system through a full cooling cycle from the thermostat, confirming full, proper, automatic operation
Top Performing Cooling Systems in the Denver Metro, Boulder & Loveland Areas!
Our service team at Save Home Heat Company is dedicated to making sure that the central and mini-split AC and heat pump systems we maintain for our customers receive highly detailed, expert attention. Our goal is to help ensure that their systems operate at peak efficiency, are highly dependable, and will provide many years of reliable performance.
The best way to accomplish this is thru a regular schedule of professional, routine annual maintenance, providing the exact attention your system requires. Our service customers in the Boulder, Denver, and Loveland areas often choose to take advantage of the benefits offered by discounted annual maintenance plans offered by our team.
Cooling system upgrades in the Metro Denver Area
Lastly, if it’s time to consider an upgrade or a new cooling system installation, you can count on our experienced, knowledgeable comfort advisers at Save Home Heat to provide you with a stress-free, highly informative, free installation quote. We often provide a number of options that we feel make sense for our customers to consider, including different efficiency levels and performance features. We take the time to fully explain each option, and patiently answer any and all questions that may arise. We’ll enable you to make a decision that you feel is the best fit for you and your home!
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please reach out to our team today!
Please contact me to schedule cooling service or to provide an install quote!
