“How can I get the best cooling from my air conditioning system this year?”
If this is a question you’re asking yourself on the cusp of the summer about your air conditioning in Doylestown, PA, you’ve come to the place for answers. We’ve served homeowners in the area since 1976 and know the best way to maximize home cooling. We’re going to take a deep dive and look at how to get the cooling you want from your air conditioner this season—and the seasons after it.
First things first: you may need a new air conditioner
If you’re wondering how to get better cooling from your AC because it isn’t cooling as well as it once did, one possibility is that the system is too old. A central air conditioner can usually last between 10 to 15 years. If you’ve had your current AC for more than 15 years, we recommend calling one of our technicians to examine it and offer advice on whether it’s more cost-effective to replace it.
Schedule routine maintenance
This is a must if you want to get the best from your air conditioning system, as well as lower the chance of needing repairs and extending the AC’s service life. You can arrange for spring maintenance for your cooling system with our team. We’ll send an HVAC pro to provide the air conditioner with an inspection to catch where it may need repairs and then give the system a full cleaning and tune-up. The air conditioner will work at peak condition after maintenance.
Change the air filter every 1 to 3 months
During professional maintenance, the technician will change out this filter in the air conditioner. If you don’t know how to do this job, ask the technician to show you—because you’ll have to replace it a few times yourself over the summer. If you leave a filter in place for too long, it will become congested and block airflow, and that means you’ll experience inferior cooling in the house.
Keep room vents open and unblocked
We advise you to tour the rooms in your house before turning on the air conditioner for the season to make sure all the room vents are open and nothing is blocking them. Furniture may have been moved and obstructed one of the vents, or the shutters of the vents closed all the way. (Closing a vent isn’t a way to save money! It will end up hiking the pressure in the HVAC system and causing a drop in airflow.)
Clear out the area around the condenser and keep it clear
The condenser is the outdoor cabinet of the air conditioner, and a part of it that’s easy to put out of your mind. However, the cooling power of the AC, in general, will decline if the cabinet is blocked or dirty. If the condenser can’t easily exhaust heat to the outside, the air conditioner won’t work well. Make sure the cabinet is clear for about a foot on all sides and any nearby plants are trimmed so they’re not too close to the intakes.
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers same-day HVAC service in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Don’t wait when you need air conditioning help.