When an air conditioner is low on refrigerant, neglected, damaged, or old, it will be unable to cool your home efficiently throughout the warm summer months. As a general rule, it is not recommended for you to service your own air conditioner due to the risk of worsening the problem. However, there are some things that you can do to maintain your system and ensure it is working optimally and efficiently.

Clean the Air Vents

Maintaining clear air vents is good for the performance of your system as well as minimizing the number of allergens within the inside of your house. The air vents can be cleaned with your vacuum cleaner. It is generally recommended that the deep cleaning of your ducts is saved for the professionals.

Unblock the Vents

As you are cleaning your vents, you should make sure that there is nothing blocking them, ensuring a sufficient amount of airflow is moving through the home. Furniture can get moved throughout the year, boxes can get piled up, etc., and often this can occur in front of the air vents.

Clean the Unit's Surroundings

The outdoor unit is constantly exposed to environmental elements, and debris is likely to accumulate around the unit. When you notice the accumulated debris, take the time to remove it. If the unit remains clean, it will perform much more efficiently. However, similar to the air vents, it is best to avoid a deep clean on it, as this should be left to a professional HVAC technician.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

If your system is not already equipped with a programmable thermostat, then it is time to contact your HVAC technician to have one installed. These thermostats are designed to automatically adjust the indoor temperature based on the time of day it is. Due to the fact that nights tend to be cooler, you can set your thermostat to automatically change to a higher temperature at a certain time, such as 8 p.m. This allows your air conditioning system to work more efficiently and saves you on cooling costs.

Listen to Your Unit

When your system begins to make weird noises, make sure that you are listening to it. Don't overlook these strange sounds, as your HVAC system is trying to let you know something is amiss. When your unit is making an abnormal sound, turn it off and contact a professional so that serious damage does not occur.

For more information, contact an air conditioning service near you.