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The Essential Guide to Air Conditioner Home Ownership

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The Essential Guide to Air Conditioner Home Ownership

Posted On: August 31, 2024

The Essential Guide to Air Conditioner Home Ownership

Owning an air conditioner is not just about enjoying cool, comfortable air during the sweltering summer months—it's about ensuring your unit runs efficiently, lasts longer, and provides value for your investment. Whether you're a new homeowner or you've had an AC unit for years, understanding the essentials of air conditioner home ownership is crucial. In this guide, we’ll cover the key aspects you need to consider to keep your air conditioning system in top shape.


1. Choosing the Right Air Conditioner for Your Home

The journey of air conditioner ownership starts with selecting the right unit. When choosing an AC system, consider the following:


  • Size and Capacity: An undersized unit will struggle to cool your home, leading to higher energy bills and faster wear and tear. On the other hand, an oversized unit may cool too quickly without properly dehumidifying the air. Ensure your unit is correctly sized for your home’s square footage and layout.


  • Energy Efficiency: Look for units with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the unit, which means lower energy bills in the long run.


  • Type of AC System: Central air conditioning systems, ductless mini-splits, and window units each have their pros and cons. Choose the one that fits your home's needs, budget, and existing infrastructure.


2. Regular Maintenance is Key

Routine maintenance is the backbone of air conditioner home ownership. Regular maintenance not only extends the lifespan of your unit but also ensures it runs efficiently. Here are the main tasks you should prioritize:


  • Filter Replacement: Replace or clean your air filters every 1-3 months, depending on usage. Clogged filters reduce efficiency and strain the system.


  • Annual Professional Tune-Up: Schedule a professional HVAC technician to inspect and tune up your system once a year. They’ll check refrigerant levels, clean coils, and ensure all components are working correctly.


  • Clean the Coils and Fins: Dirt and debris can accumulate on the condenser coils and fins, reducing efficiency. Gently clean these parts with a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment.


3. Understanding Your Thermostat

Your thermostat plays a vital role in how your air conditioner operates. To maximize efficiency:


  • Set It to the Right Temperature: The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F when you're home and higher when you're away. This helps reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.


  • Utilize Programmable Thermostats: Invest in a programmable or smart thermostat that can automatically adjust the temperature based on your schedule. This feature can significantly reduce your energy bills.


  • Regularly Calibrate Your Thermostat: Ensure your thermostat is calibrated correctly to avoid inaccurate readings, which can lead to your system working harder than necessary.


4. Know When to Repair or Replace

Even with regular maintenance, there comes a time when you need to decide whether to repair or replace your air conditioner. Consider these factors:


  • Age of the Unit: Most air conditioners last between 10 to 15 years. If your unit is nearing the end of its lifespan and requires frequent repairs, it may be more cost-effective to replace it with a newer, more efficient model.


  • Repair Costs: If the cost of repairs is more than 50% of the price of a new unit, replacement is usually the better option.


  • Energy Efficiency: Newer models are often more energy-efficient. Upgrading to a newer model can reduce your energy bills and improve your home's comfort.


5. Optimize Airflow and Insulation

Proper airflow and insulation are crucial for your air conditioner’s performance. Here’s how to optimize them:


  • Seal Leaks: Check for and seal any air leaks around doors, windows, and ductwork to prevent cool air from escaping and warm air from entering your home.


  • Insulate Your Home: Proper insulation in your walls, attic, and floors can reduce the load on your air conditioner, making it easier for your system to maintain a consistent temperature.


  • Clear Vents and Registers: Ensure that furniture, curtains, and other objects do not block vents and registers, allowing for proper airflow throughout your home.


6. Prepare for Off-Season Storage

If you live in an area with cold winters, you might not use your air conditioner for several months. Properly preparing your unit for off-season storage can prevent damage and ensure it’s ready to go when the warm weather returns:


  • Cover the Outdoor Unit: Protect the outdoor unit with a weatherproof cover to prevent debris, snow, and ice from accumulating on it.


  • Turn Off the Power: Turn off the power to the outdoor unit to prevent it from accidentally turning on during the winter.


  • Inspect the Unit in Spring: Before turning your air conditioner back on in the spring, inspect it for any damage and clean it thoroughly.


7. Energy-Saving Tips

As an air conditioner owner, saving energy should be a priority. Here are some simple tips to reduce your energy consumption:


  • Use Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans can help circulate cool air, allowing you to raise the thermostat by a few degrees without sacrificing comfort.


  • Close Curtains and Blinds: Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day to block out the sun’s heat.


  • Limit Heat-Generating Activities: Avoid using ovens, stoves, and other heat-generating appliances during the hottest parts of the day to reduce the load on your air conditioner.


Conclusion

Proper air conditioner home ownership is about more than just enjoying cool air; it’s about ensuring your unit runs efficiently, lasts longer, and helps you save money. By choosing the right system, maintaining it regularly, optimizing airflow, and adopting energy-saving habits, you can enjoy the benefits of your air conditioner for years to come.


Investing time and effort into these practices will not only enhance your comfort but also increase the longevity and efficiency of your air conditioning system. Stay cool and take care of your AC—it’s an essential part of your home’s comfort and value.



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See What Our Customers Are Saying:

by Dorothy on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Had furnace and air conditioning unit put in. They did an excellent job great price and everything clean as can be, I was very pleased

by Barry on Twintech Heating and Cooling

All winter I have had an issue with very little heat reaching the 2nd floor of our home. After this past winter ended I decided to look into this. I found Twintech Heating and Cooling on line and started the process. After explaining my problem I had a call form Twintech and the tech came out and walked through things with me. The problem was the heating vent pipe had been dropped down in size by someone years ago causing little heat reaching the 2nd floor. Further into checking out the older furnace and AC they found a few things not properly installed by the last install of the old furnace and also that the AC was on it's last legs. I asked for a quote and waited a few days and we decided to go ahead with Twintech. They called a few days before to set up an installation time and date. The day of the install the guys were a half hour early which was a plus. The day of the install was great, the guys worked away removing the old furnace and AC.After which they installed the new furnace and AC. After they cleaned up the basement with all their tools and scrap metal etc. they came back inside to walk thru what they did. They also tested both the furnace and cooling systems to make sure everything worked and I the customer was happy. I now have heat on the 2nd floor for next winter. The guys from Twin tech were very professional. Their work habits and knowledge of the job was excellent. Their workmanship was just excellent, it was just up there with my standards as a homeowner. I am very pleased to have chosen Twintech for my new furnace and AC.. If I had to rate this experience with Twintech this company is a 10 in my books.Product,workmanship and customer care says it all.

by Craig in Whitby on Twintech Heating and Cooling

I called Twintech during the Covid 19 crisis because our furnace was broken and it was still very cold during the nights. Dave answered all of my questions by phone but wanted to come have a look but only if our family felt comfortable having someone visit during the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and was able to attend that very same affternoon.

He was very courteous and informative but most importantly he respected his and our safety by wearing medical gloves in our home and maintaining proper physical distancing. He reviewed the various options of the products that suited our needs going over not only price but quality of workmanship, warrantees and where the product was manufactured which were all important factors in making such a large purchase. You could tell that Dave had been in this industry for a very long time.

The installation was done by a fine young gentleman the very next day and we now have a toasty warm home to ride out this crisis in while humming along at 96% efficiency!

I would recommend this very professional, small family business for anyone in need of HVAC equipment or maintenance.

by Lucy in Markham on Twintech Heating and Cooling

My special thanks to Twintech teams! They had replaced my furnace and A/C, and installed a new humidifier for me 2 weeks ago. Dave, the sales manager, not only provided me with an honest quote on the best HVAC products with best quality and warranties, he also arranged portable heaters for me and sent supporting docs to energy company for energy audit. Above and beyond service!

Greg, Grant, Mitch had worked tirelessly and professionally to perform the HVAC installation. They worked with professional tools, and performed proper measurement readings after installation. They are very patient with all my questions, and very pleasant to communicate.

Great work guys! This company sure knows their products and they stand behind their services. My home comfort level has improved! I am glad that I can support an ethical and honest local family business.

by ddame on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Professional, flexible on price and delivered on time...well done. All you can ask for when getting a new furnace.

by nicole.el.thorn on Twintech Heating and Cooling

The work was done quickly and professionally. Workers were really polite and easy to work with.
Product works great!

by Gary in London on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Furnace broke down on a Wednesday, shopped around for prices and Friday Twintechs name came up from a referral from my wife's work. Called Dave 11 am, he came over around 1 pm. Gave me a very good price, I accepted. The guys were there two hours later to take the old furnace out and install the new one. All finished by 6:30pm. Finally heat.
They were very pleasant and helpful. As a result we are doing our A/C later this year with this company.

by Shawn L in Whitby on Twintech Heating and Cooling

After some extensive research, we settled on Twintech for our new furnace. The service - from Dave's initial visit - through to the installation was absolutely fantastic.

Dave was super-patient with our many questions, did not try to "up-sell" us into buying things we don't need, knowledgeable, friendly and all-around an excellent Advisor.

I've forgotten the names of the installers but they were superb as well. They showed up on-time, did all the work with no mess or intrusion, removed the old furnace and installed the new one in one day; all with no impacts to our day-to-day life.

I cannot recommend Twintech enough, especially over any of 'bigger guys' who tried to sell us a bunch of thing we don't need. Twintech were fantastic and my wife and I are very pleased with our purchase.

by Stephen from Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

From the minute I met Dave and discussed my new furnace needs I knew I was in good hands. He was patient, knowledgeable and very professional through the quotation process.

Grant and Greg did an outstanding job on the install. They did a great job of explaining the defects with my old furnace. The quality of the installation was excellent and the attention to detail was on another level. The old adage “You get what you pay for” couldn’t be more true as I feel I received great value, skilled expertise and high quality customer service. I highly recommend Twintech for all your heating and cooling needs.

by Arthur on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Glad to have found a not-too-big local firm that provided the needed expertise, quality workmanship, and competitive pricing as well. In and out in one day, removed the old units, did a nice job installing all of the new units, and left no debris. Even have a service contract that far outshined the big company offerings. Would definitely recommend them.

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See What Our Customers Are Saying:

by Aaron on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We are very happy to recommend this company to everyone. Our furnace broke down on Sunday morning. We phoned them and before noon Grant the owner showed up. He worked on the furnace for about a hour not wanting to give up to fix the problem. The furnace was 17 years old. I was the one talking about replacing it. End result was the next day it was all done. On the Sunday Bob came over with heaters to warm up the house. We decided to replace the water heater at the same time. Thanks Grant for the excellent work. Thumbs up.

by Linda on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Right on time. Explained how to work the HRV in a different way so the house would not be so dry. Changed my whole house water filter for me as well. Friendly, helpful, caring service!

by Robert Rogers on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.

by Robert Mizuno on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!

by Ruth on Twintech Heating and Cooling

TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!

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