Winter has reared its head and right now you’re counting on your air conditioner more than ever. One of the easiest ways to keep your air conditioner running effortlessly is to stay up on annual maintenance and tune-ups. There are also a couple of easy things you can check on yourself that could keep you from being left in the cold and in need of an emergency AC repair.

1. Keep Air Vents Open – There’s a misunderstanding that exists about closing off vents in vacant rooms. In theory, it makes sense that it would save on energy costs. However, closing off vents actually puts an unnecessary strain on your system that can lead to problems in the future. Interior walls are not insulated and the temperature in the room will leak to other rooms in your house, leaving an imbalance and causing your system to work less efficiently.
2. Check Your Thermostat – Sometimes when your air conditioner isn’t running correctly, the problem is very easy – depleted batteries in your thermostat. Usually, your thermostat will offer a warning approximately a month before the battery doesn’t work, but if you missed it, that may be the cause of your heating issues.

Are your vents blowing cool air instead of heated? There could be a simple explanation for it. Check and be sure your thermostat is set to “heat” instead of “cool”. You never know who has been playing around with the thermostat.

Your thermostat has a fan setting. If you see that your system is always blowing air, you could have your fan set to “on” instead of “auto”. The “on” switch always keeps your fan blowing, regardless if your AIR CONDITIONER is currently heating. The “auto” switch only utilizes the blower when the air conditioner is heating your home. Keep in mind, if you keep your switch set to “on” you’ll have to exchange your filters more often. This then leads to . . . a “gross” filter.

1. Change Your Air Filter – A gross filter is the most common reason a heating system quits running. Dirt and debris keep air from passing around your system and that may possibly cause your air conditioner to overheat. Changing your air conditioner filter is the easiest way to help possibly extend the lifespan of your heating system and avoid AC repair.

Along with these three tips, the best advice is to keep up with annual, scheduled air conditioner maintenance. If you haven’t booked your annual air conditioner service yet, you can easily schedule an appointment online or if give us a call at 714-710-1070.