Your central AC units use a considerable amount of energy. As the summer approaches the Greenwich, CT area it’s a good time to start thinking about how you can help keep your AC running as efficiently as possible. By doing so you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy bills. Start by taking steps to keep cool air from escaping your home. Your residential property management company can help you with some of the more complicated steps, but homeowners can handle some of these efforts as well.
Key Benefits of Central AC
Let’s start by considering the key benefits of central air conditioning. Greenwich, CT summers can get very hot. This can pose a safety issue for elderly folks and young children. Air conditioners also provide better air quality inside the home by circulating and filtering pollutants. In addition, furniture, expensive drapery, artwork, and area rugs can be damaged overtime by exposure to high heat and humidity. Lastly, electronics can overheat in high temperatures.
Major Sources of Cool Air Loss
Poor insulation is a primary source of air loss. Older homes or converted spaces often have failing insulation and sometimes none at all. If you’re planning a renovation this is an excellent time to upgrade using the highest R-value material possible, such as spray-foam. Combine this with rigid foam panels on the exterior walls for a highly efficient space. And if your walls are hollow they can be insulated using blown in material.
Windows play a significant role in air loss. Cool air from AC units can escape easily through outdated windows. Newer windows are designed with multiple glass panes. They are also sealed more effectively than older models. If you’re planning to replace windows before winter, consider the value of doing the work now to avoid the loss of cool air in the summer months. And make sure to fill any gaps that may exist around windows and doors. Window replacement is a big job that can be handled by a residential property management company.
Other areas in the house that your property management company can help with include sealing the chimney in the offseason with a special balloon. Outlets and switches can be sealed with foam gaskets. And make sure crawl spaces, vents, fans and lighting fixtures are sealed properly.
Regular AC Servicing
It’s essential to have your AC units serviced every year. Doing so will extend the life of your equipment, help avoid larger breakdowns in the future, and keep the system running at peak efficiency. Yearly inspection and tune-up servicing will include calibrating the thermostat, cleaning or replacing filters, cleaning blower components and condenser coils, monitoring refrigerant pressure, and more. Always have your property management company bring in a licensed HVAC professional for this task.
Additional Tricks for Keeping Cool Air Inside The Home
Summer heat comes pouring in through windows and glass doors. Consider closing blinds or curtains in rooms that are infrequently used. And do the same in spaces with large windows when the home is unoccupied for long periods of time.
The position of your thermostat can actually cause your HVAC to work unnecessarily. If there are hot air pockets around the thermostat it may cause your AC to turn on sooner than it should. These air pockets can be caused by gaps around outlets, doors, or windows that are located close to the thermostat. This is one more reason to get these spaces filled.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are things that some homeowners do with their central AC units that should be avoided. For example you should never turn your thermostat down extremely low in hopes that it will cool the house quicker. The equipment will work at the same speed regardless of the temperature setting. You’ll end up bringing the temperature down too low and wasting energy.
Another thing to avoid is using outdated technology, such as thermostats. Programmable thermostats allow you to set the unit to turn on and off automatically depending on the time of day. This will help avoid leaving the AC running by accident when you’re not in the house. And learning thermostats automatically adjust the temperature based on your behaviors.
Central AC is must-have during Fairfield County, CT summers. Getting the most out of your equipment starts by taking steps to help them run efficiently. Bring in a residential property management company to help you with some or all of the steps discussed here. And then sit back and enjoy the cool air.
