Without regular maintenance, your cooling system may lose about 5% of its original efficiency for each year of operation. To follow are some simple steps you can take to help lower your cooling costs and extend the life of your cooling system.

Regular Tune-Ups: The cooling system should be serviced at least once every two years and preferably each year before the heat of summer. This maintenance will help your system maintain 95% of its original efficiency. The technician should check all components, even those at the air handler. The older the cooling system, the more important that regular maintenance is to prolong its life expectancy.

Insulated Refrigerant Lines: The large copper line leading to the A/C unit should be well insulated. Missing insulation will reduce the efficiency and add to your cooling costs.

Keep It Shaded: The Department of Energy recommends shading the A/C unit so that it doesn’t have to work as hard. According to the DOE, this one action should save you up to 10% on your cooling bill. There should also be two feet of clear space around the A/C unit.

Keep It Checked: You’ll want to check a couple of different things on your A/C about once a month. Check air filters and replace as needed - anywhere from two to four months would be normal. Look around for leaks in the hoses or air ducts and insure that insulation is in place. Even small leaks or missing insulation around old air ducts can add to the cooling costs.

Keep It Consistent: Don’t turn you’re A/C unit on and off. Set the thermostat temperature and let the air conditioner do its job without your interference. Insure the fan is placed on auto at all times. Allowing the fan to continue to run will only circulate air through the hot attic which will warm it.

Following these easy steps should save you money and help insure your cooling system will run the entire summer without serious breakdowns.

For more on this or other home care subjects, contact Scott at www.scottsauer.com.