For plenty of Radford tenants, heating and cooling bills make up over half of a household’s total utility expenses. During warm weather months, the use of air conditioning would drive up costs and take money away from more significant things. This makes it vital to do what you can to always keep utilities as low as possible.
As the property owner, working on some basic maintenance on your air conditioning unit and faithfully obeying a small number of very easy practices, you can thus optimize your air conditioning system and easily keep your utility bills under control all at the same time.
One easy measure to increase your air conditioning unit’s efficiency is to clean it suitably no less than once a year. If your unit sits on the ground, see to it to clear away any leaves or debris that may have fallen on or around it. It’s similarly a great idea to clean your unit’s condenser coils and your drain line or have a professional come around and do it. Most air conditioning units have a drain by the indoor cooling coil, which is, in most cases, posted near your furnace. You can swiftly clear it by pouring one cup of bleach down the drain and then rinsing it with a gallon of water.
One other necessary part of optimizing your air conditioning system is to make airflow more efficient. An appropriate place to begin is to clear items away from your indoor vents and vacuum them out. This will get your AC system to accomplish a better job of distributing cold air wherever in the house. It may likewise be helpful to keep your interior doors open and adjust the vents in every room that is not used daily. To block the cold air from going out and keep it inside, close your blinds or curtains during the hottest parts of the day. In like manner, see to it that you have good quality weather-stripping around each door and window. This will prevent air leaks and keep the cold air circulating inside the house where it much needed.
You can, moreover, help keep your air conditioning system from operating harder than it should be. Raising your thermostat setting by two or three degrees can minimize the strain on your air conditioning unit. Most experts recommend maintaining it at 78 degrees when you are at home, and a bit higher when you’re gone. Also, using a fan with your air conditioning can help to circulate the air faster and render a very pleasant cooling breeze. Always utilizing a ceiling fan or table fan in some of the rooms can certainly help boost your air conditioning unit’s functionality and maintain a comfortable temperature.
Lastly, let’s point out the importance of avoiding adding extra sources of heat to your home’s interior. Cooking, using the oven, or running the clothes dryer would all heat your house. If you use these appliances during the hottest parts of the day, it would surely keep your air conditioning unit work even harder. In the warmest months, always try to use your appliances either in the morning or at night. This will aid your air conditioner to work more effectively and keep your house cool all day long. If you do have to cook, use your exhaust fan to pull the heat out of the house or a floor fan to help it disperse. Doing so could help prevent your kitchen from being the hottest section in the house.
By following a few simple strategies and performing regular maintenance, you can optimize your air conditioning system and keep your utility costs down all summer long.
At Real Property Management Insight, we make sure to keep all of our rentals (including their air conditioning) in tip-top shape. If you’re interested in talking to a Radford property manager, contact us online or call us at 540-998-6917.
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