Pump New Oxygen Into a Tired Central Air System
When summer temperatures spike or humidity blankets your region, your house becomes a refuge from the elements. At some point, you may notice that your central air conditioning system seems to be working less efficiently; your house takes longer to cool or you feel the moisture in the air more often than before. Even worse, what happens when your system fails to turn on at all? Do you need to install a new one? Try these troubleshooting steps to determine whether your central air system is just having a hiccup, or is instead on its last breath.
Call the Specialist
Before attempting to mark the boxes on your evaluation checklist, scan your calendar to determine when you last called in a service specialist, https://www.denverheating-airconditioning.com/, for a routine inspection. An annual-maintenance contract is essential to keeping your central air system performing as intended and for keeping major problems at bay. If more than a year has passed, or if you have never had your unit serviced, your troubleshooting will act only as a Band-Aid fix, not a long-term solution.
Adjust the Thermostat
Today’s control units are far more sophisticated than ever; over time, some parameters may have changed and need to be readjusted. For example, sometimes the thermostat keeps the system operating even when the house has cooled to the set temperature; this operation is necessary to maintain humidity at desired levels. Check all settings in the controller’s menu trees. You may need to use the manual for advanced settings.
Check the Ins and Outs
Think about the last time you changed the filter in the air handler. These air purifiers need to be replaced twice a year, depending on several factors that can affect cooling quality: pets in the home, smoke and smog in your region, or dust from surrounding roads and paths. Even more often, vacuum the registers and returns, especially if your system also doubles as a forced-air furnace.
Hack Around the Compressor
Plants crowding the outdoor compressor will disrupt the necessary airflow. Remove any that are growing closer than a few feet; also cut away tree branches dangling just above the unit. At the same time, leave farther foliage intact to provide cooling shade so that the compressor operates more efficiently.
Like any complicated whole-house system, central air conditioning requires care to perform optimally. Performing routine maintenance and incorporating an annual service visit will keep your system flowing smoothly.
