Residents of Jacksonville, FL, know all too well just how important air conditioning is during the summer months. They also know that their HVAC system can suffer from performance degradation over time. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. A few surprisingly simple tips will help ensure that your air conditioner performs as well as possible at all times, without spending a fortune.
Invest in Regular Maintenance
The single most important thing to do to improve air conditioning performance is to invest in regular maintenance with a trusted HVAC company. Your system should be serviced twice per year, once in the spring and then again in the fall. Each service should include a full inspection of the entire system, a replacement of your filter, cleaning of your system, checking the refrigerant, and more.
Check Duct Insulation
The ductwork is responsible for carrying cooled air throughout your home and ensuring that each room is the correct temperature. However, if the insulation on the outside of the ducts has fallen off or been torn, it means the air moving through those ducts is warmer than it should be. Check the insulation on your ductwork regularly. You’ll need to access either the basement or the attic, depending on the setup of your system (ceiling-mounted or floor-mounted vents), and then use a flashlight to inspect the full length of the duct. Look for areas where the insulation has fallen away, and reapply it to improve your air conditioning performance.
Vent Your Attic
The attic of your home can become incredibly hot during the summer. That heat can leech through the ceiling and into the living areas of your home. If your ducts are run through the ceiling, it can affect them, as well. You can avoid this problem by venting your attic. Most homes are built with a vent system of some type – it could be built into the eaves of the house, or it could be a series of turbines mounted on the roof itself. Make sure your vent system is open and operating properly, and the temperature in your attic (and in your home) will drop.
These are just a few ways that you can improve the performance of your air conditioning system for little or no cost. The most important thing is to work with a trusted Jacksonville, FL, HVAC company to provide maintenance and repairs when needed.
