Are you having a hard time staying comfortable in your house?
Summer may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t hot days left. Is your air conditioner still cooling the way that it should be? If your home is not reaching the correct temperature, there are several things that may be an issue that don’t involve a service call.
Try making these adjustments before you call a contractor.
Close blinds and curtains. Rooms with south-facing windows may feel warmer than those without. The sun can really heat things up! To help counter the warming effect of the sun’s rays, close your blinds and curtains. Your room will stay cooler in the shade.
Close vents. There is a misconception that closing vents and registers in unused/infrequently used rooms is a great way to save money. However, this is not the case. Your air conditioner is designed to cool a certain amount of space. When you start closing vents and registers, you could potentially damage your unit. Not to mention, if you forget to open them again, it could affect the comfort levels of that room. Make sure your vents are open.
Poorly placed furniture. Last time you arranged your rooms, did you make sure to take the placement of your vents and registers into account? If your living room is hot, your couch could be blocking a vent. Try rearranging your furniture if you have a hot living space.
Humidity levels. A humid home is a hot home. How high do you have the humidity set in your home? If your home is too humid, you may want to consider dropping the percentage. This can also help prevent mold growth.
Here are some things that should be dealt with by a contractor.
Poorly sized air conditioner. Did your contractor perform a Manual J load calculation when they installed your air conditioner? If not, you could have an undersized system. An undersized system will result in long run times, potential system damage and uncomfortable living spaces.
Leaky ductwork. When was the last time you had your ductwork inspected? Leaky ductwork can mean that your cooled, conditioned air is not being distributed to every part of your home. It’s a good idea to have a contractor come out and look at your ductwork once a year, especially if you are noticing areas that suffer from extreme cold and extreme heat.
When it comes to installation and repairs, it is best to call your local heating and air conditioning professional. As summer ends, it is a good idea to start thinking about fall preventative furnace maintenance. Remember, it’s never too early to schedule an appointment for the fall.
