The summer season has arrived, and so do the grueling heat. We are currently in the height of summer where the sun is beating down, and mercury has soared into the red. We can’t even think to compromise or deal with any problem that can turn into an expensive breakdown of our air conditioner or result in unbearable indoor temperature.

To have uninterrupted and best cooling for your home keep these hacks in mind that increase the efficiency and extend the life span of a heating and cooling system.

AC maintenance and home cooling Tips:

A well-maintained AC unit works way more effectively to cool the place and cost you less money to run. You can perform the following DIY maintenance on AC to avoid any unpleasant experience or emergency breakdown.

Optimize the thermostat setting:

Homeowners should frequently check the thermostat to make sure it is working fine. Increase the temperature for times in a day when there is no one in the home. As it can reduce the energy bill and eventually your hard-earned money.

Tip: Having a mechanical or old thermostat? Consider upgrading to a smart or programmable model.

Clean and Replace Air filters:

The debris in the air filter can reduce the airflow, making AC to work harder than usual. Therefore, cleaning or replacing air filter is regarded as the essential Ac maintenance chores.

In summers, it is advised to clean air filters every month or replace it in case you do not have the reusable filters.

Inspecting wiring and components:

Before turning on an air conditioner, ALWAYS make sure to disconnect the power to the unit. In the next step, ensure the access panels are removed and see if there are any signs of overheating.
The electrical connection needs to be strong and firm that you can check by test meter.

Clean the coils:

Coils should be timely cleaned as dust keeps on accumulating and interfere with the functional operation of the coils.
Clean coils reduce the bill while dirty coils consume more than 37% energy. 

With the approaching winter, homeowners are preparing their Furnaces and Fireplaces and at the same time putting their AC condensers on snooze for a long winter break. For winters, you must have heard of the importance of covering the condenser unit since not covering it damages the unit, particularly as the environmental factors make their influence. But we can say it for sure that you must have heard half of the tip. While covering is fine, fully fledged covering is not a good idea and there as convincing reasons why;

- Moisture in a fully covered unit 

The compressor unit develops moisture because of high humidity, rain, snow or other climatic conditions. This moisture easily gets dispersed when the unit is not completely covered and get sufficient sunlight. In the case of the fully covered unit, moisture will still find a way in but will not get away easily once it reaches in the inside of the unit. Long presence of moisture, as you can guess, will contribute to producing rust and mold on the unit and corrode the compressor parts. 

- Rodents are not kept away this way

Many people cover their outdoor compressor units in order to protect them from animals. particularly rodents. Interestingly, covering the unit actually helps the rodents find a warm place to spend their winters at. So they make the inside or downside of the unit their home. The mess they create and the damage they cause is, of course, something you already have an idea about.

- A simple cover is all okay 

While there is no need to fully cover the unit, there is a need to cover it. And that is because, in winter, leaves fall and dust & debris gets accumulated on the unit particularly when it is not operational. So covering it up with a simple cover helps keep dust, debris and leaves away. Also, in case of a storm, other stuff may bang into the unit and get stuck therein when there's no cover at all.
So yes, cover it but the cover shouldn't be a seal.

Bottom line - Outdoor units are durable! 

The parts of the air conditioner that are meant to stay in the outdoor are designed in such a way so as to withstand the toughness of the climate conditions. The latest models, in particular, come with designs that offer special safety to the unit. So there is not really a need to fully cover the unit but even if it is covered, it should be done in such a way so as to leave some space for the unit to breathe in and out. And as said above, a normal fabric cover is well enough to protect the unit from dust, debris and leaves and at the same time, to keep it cool enough so as not to offer a residence to rodents and other animals.
A side tip in order to keep pests and animals away is to use a professional's suggested spray around the unit to keep all these unit corroding elements away.
Do you cover your unit in winters? If yes, how? If not, why not?

While everyone else is busy purchasing Furnaces and tuning their home for winter, here we are talking about Air Conditioners. Is there a particular reason for this post? Oh yes, there is! But before knowing that reason, you should make sure whether or not your unit needs an upgrade.

Does my unit need an upgrade? 

To be sure of whether or not your unit needs an upgrade, the best way is to allow a professional technician to evaluate it. But since many homeowners are always trying to save, their preference is to not spend on a professional analysis and instead, make an analysis all on their own. For such homeowners, here are some useful tips;

- If your unit is old and has lately been costing too much, it is suggested to replace it. That is because even if you don't upgrade, you'll have to pay in the form of hefty energy bills whatsoever. And despite high energy bills, there will be compromised comfort. So if the bills have been unusually high lately, better replace!

- In addition to bringing hefty bills, one of the signs for a unit needing a replacement is when it breaks off frequently resulting in costly repairs. Once again, if you do not replace and drag the same unit, it will continue to create costly repair circumstances and your budget will continue to experience shocks. Better replace and relax!

- Even if the unit is not causing high energy bills or frequent repairs, an age of over 15 years is an indication of replacement in itself. While many people wonder why should they replace when the unit is running, the answer is; the running unit can stop anytime, most probably on the hottest noon possible. And why should you wait for a unit to bring high bills or frequent repairs and breakdowns? Why not replace well in time? Professionals suggest that it is better to replace a system when it crosses the age of 15 years. And should be replaced whatsoever if it exceeds 20 years.

Does it make sense to purchase Air Conditioner in Fall? 

And here we are at the point of concern. Why should an Air Conditioner be replaced in Fall or Winter? What sense does it make?
Here are some of the reasons that prove replacement is beneficial when it is done in an off-peak season:
- Goes without saying that in peak season the price tags suddenly go unusually high. And this is quite opposite in off-peak season.  In off-peak season, the prices usually drop. So one of the benefits of replacing AC for the next summer is savings. Savings, something that you love, don't you?
- Making a purchase in the off-peak season gives you the privilege of taking the wise decision. Many times, homeowners make purchases in a rush which often turns out to be an unwise purchase. Contrarily, when there's time to think, search, check reviews and consult a professional, the outcome is a unit that best suits your home and your needs.
- With a purchased unit at home, you can wait for the best time for installation and make some saving of installation as well.

If your Furnace is new/performing good and there's no other costly appliance purchase on the list but you have money to invest, invest in replacement of Air Conditioner. And make the purchase now!