How to Tell If Your AC is Running Efficiently

We can’t think of anything more satisfying than coming into a well-air-conditioned home in the summertime. If your AC unit is working effectively, it should feel just heavenly! With that said, it’s important to make sure that your unit is well maintained after running season after season (and especially when it’s working even harder during the summer months!). Here are some tips for ensuring that your AC is running efficiently and effectively to keep you cool all summer long.

Take Your AC Unit’s Temperature

Say “ahhh”… Just kidding! Place a thermometer on the supply register (what supplies cool air through your home) that’s closest to your cooling equipment, leave it there for five minutes, then place a thermometer on the return vent. The air that is coming out should be at least 15 degrees cooler than the air that is coming in.

Check the Filter

Dirty, clogged filters are one of the main culprits of AC units not functioning properly. It’s suggested that you replace filters at least every three months, and if it hasn’t yet been three months since they’ve been replaced but they’re still dirty, go ahead and replace them. So… if you’re just now realizing you can’t remember the last time you replaced yours, you better get to it!

Check Your Blower

Outdoor units should make a faint noise and you should also be able to see the fan blowing.

Check the Evaporator Coils

Over time, dust builds up in your unit’s evaporator coils and overworks your AC. Clean the coils out yourself or leave the job to the pros (AKA, us!).

Check Your Thermostat

Sometimes, the problem isn’t even with the AC itself, it’s your thermostat. Make sure your system has fresh batteries if you think there’s a problem with your thermostat.

If your AC does happen to be broken or not running properly, we’d be happy to help! Give us a call at  919-755-1957.