Several Papillion tenants will agree that heating and cooling bills make up over half of a household’s total utility expenses. If you wish to avoid driving up your costs, particularly during months of warm weather, try to regulate your use of the air conditioning. Thus, it’s vital to do what you can to keep utilities as low as possible. Because you are the property owner, you will need to learn a few basic maintenance tricks on your air conditioning unit so that you can optimize it. In doing so, you keep the utility bills under control.
In wanting to increase your unit’s efficiency, make sure to clean it properly, at least once a year. If your unit sits on the ground, make sure to clear away any leaves or debris that may have fallen on or around it. You can always clean your unit’s condenser coils and your drain line or have a professional come out and do it. Most air conditioning units have a drain by the indoor cooling coil, which is regularly set near your furnace. You can easily clear it by pouring one cup of bleach down the drain and then rinsing it with a gallon of water.
Another important part of optimizing your air conditioning system is to make airflow more efficient. The efficiency of airflow starts with clearing items away from indoor vents and making sure the vents are vacuumed. In doing so, your AC system will do a better job of distributing cold air. Another thing you can do is to keep your interior doors open and adjust the vents in rooms that aren’t used daily. To keep the cold air inside, close your blinds or curtains during the hottest parts of the day. Also, make sure 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 belongs.
You can keep your air conditioning system from operating harder than it should. Raising your thermostat setting by two or three degrees can decrease the strain on your AC. Most experts recommend keeping it at 78 degrees when you are at home, and a bit higher when you’re gone. If you want a cooling breeze circulating, you can use a fan along with your AC. Using a ceiling fan or table fan in certain rooms can help boost your air conditioning unit’s functionality and maintain a comfortable temperature.
Last but not the least, consider avoiding adding extra sources of heat to your home’s interior. Cooking, using the oven, or running the clothes dryer can all heat your house. If you use these appliances during the hottest parts of the day, it can make your air conditioning unit work even harder. During the warmest months, try to use your appliances either in the morning or at night. This will help your air conditioner work more effectively and keep your house cool all day long. If cooking is something that you need to do, use your exhaust fan to pull the heat out of the house or a floor fan to help it disperse. In so doing, you are relieving the kitchen of being the hot spot of 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 Legacy, 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 Papillion property manager, contact us online or call us at 402-983-8365.
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