Keep Your AC Efficient

Many people don't realize that there is more to keeping your air conditioner efficient than not running it all the time. Whether it's in your home, car, or office, keeping your air conditioning clean and updated can save you a lot of extra trouble in the long run.

Most air conditioners get their cold air by using a chemical called chlorofluorocarbon, which is also commonly referred to as Freon. The Freon acts as a refrigerant to keep an area cool. Most air conditioners also act as a dehumidifier. Freon, however, doesn't replenish itself, so if you run out of it you'll need to get it replaced. Otherwise, your air conditioner is basically serving as a fan for whatever area you're trying to cool off. Make sure to get the Freon checked and replaced if you realize cold air isn't blowing out of your AC vents.

Another thing one should keep tabs on for an efficient air conditioner is if the filter is clean. Air conditioning filters work much like lint traps found in dryers. If it's not clean, the job doesn't get done as effectively, and sometimes not at all. Air conditioning filters often trap dust and other particles, and if the filter is full of these particles, the air won't be able to successfully travel through the vents due to being blocked by the dirty filter. Sometimes, if an air conditioner isn't working properly, all that needs to be done is a filter change.

Air conditioners can't do their job properly if the windows are open. You must pick one or the other if you don't want your air conditioner to break. If it's a hot and humid day, and you have the windows open and the air conditioner running at the same time, you're significantly increasing the risk of breaking the air conditioner due to the fact that the humidity is creating condensation on your air conditioner system. After you decide to close the windows, and if you decide to keep your air conditioner running, the condensation that built up in and around your central air conditioner could quite possibly freeze your pipes. 

You can tell if your pipes are frozen because the ice will probably build up around the base of the pipe. The ice then blocks any air from being able to travel through your system, so your air conditioner cannot even act as a fan at this point. The best way to solve this problem is to turn off your air conditioning system for one or two hours, or until the ice melts. Wipe off the central system itself so it doesn't refreeze. 

Keeping your AC efficient doesn't take much work if you keep up with what needs to be replaced, and when. This could save you a lot of money, because if your air conditioner happens to break to the point where it can't be repaired, you may end up spending a lot of money for a replacement.