>Summer is a hot and sweaty time of year. We all look forward to the cool breeze of fall, but that’s not going to happen if you don’t extend the life of your air conditioning unit in time. If you live in a hot climate, your air conditioner probably has a short lifespan. The high humidity, heat, and dust that settle into your unit every day will reduce its effectiveness, shortening its useful life by anywhere from a few months to a year or more. However, there are ways that you can extend the life of your air conditioner and make it last longer. You may not be able to extend the lifespan of your air conditioner by much, but every little bit helps! Here are some tips for extending the life of your air conditioner and keeping it running smoothly all summer long:

Change your air filter regularly

Your air filter is the first thing that gets dirty in your air conditioning system. As dirt and dust settle into your unit, they get caught in your air filter, which is located in the outdoor portion of your HVAC system. Unfortunately, this means that your indoor air is going to be full of dirty particles that your lungs don’t need. This can make you feel unwell and cause you to miss out on the benefits of air conditioning. To make sure that your filter is clean, you can check it every month, or even every week, depending on how often you use your air conditioner. If you notice that your filter is getting dirty faster than usual, then it’s probably time to replace it. It’s important to change your filter regularly to ensure that it’s doing its job and protecting your system from damage.

Clean your condenser coils regularly

The condenser coils in your air conditioner are responsible for cooling the air inside your home. As the warm air inside your home travels through the coils, it picks up dirt and debris, which then gets deposited back into your home. If you don’t clean your condenser coils regularly, they will become clogged with dirt and dust, which will reduce the cooling efficiency of your system. You can clean your condenser coils by spraying them with water and letting them dry. You can also use a special cleaning solution designed for HVAC equipment. If you have a professional cleaning service, they can come out and clean your condenser coils for you.

Change out your refrigerant if needed

Some air conditioners use a special type of refrigerant called R-22. This refrigerant has been phased out by the EPA, because it has been linked to damage to the ozone layer. If you have an older air conditioner, it may be using R-22, but if it’s not, you don’t have to worry. If you feel that your air conditioner is not cooling your home as effectively as it once did, or if you are experiencing any other problems related to the cooling system, then you may want to consider changing out your refrigerant. Changing out your refrigerant will not only improve the cooling efficiency of your system, but it will also extend the life of your air conditioner, because it will be using less energy to cool your home.

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to extend the life of your air conditioner and keep your home cool during the summer months. A programmable thermostat can save you up to 10% on your energy bills, and it can also help you to reduce your energy usage on hot days. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to lower the temperature in your home when you’re sleeping, and you can set it to turn off the air conditioning unit when no one is home. This will help to save energy and extend the life of your air conditioner.

Change your HVAC system’s oil periodically

Your HVAC system is made up of many different parts, and some of them require oil to run smoothly. If you don’t change your HVAC system’s oil, it will become thick and gooey, and it will reduce the efficiency of your system. If you have an oil-filled system, you can change your oil every 12 months or so. While this may seem like a lot of work, it’s important to keep your HVAC system running smoothly, and changing the oil will do just that.

Conclusion

Air conditioning is a wonderful thing, but it can be very costly to operate. If you want to make sure that your air conditioning system lasts as long as possible, you need to take care of it properly. Follow these tips and you should be able to extend the life of your air conditioner and make it last longer.