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Most homeowners realize that the best way to avoid costly repair bills and the best way to enjoy their quality of living at home is to make sure that they get all of the pertinent parts serviced and maintained on a regular basis. In particular, it’s vital that the AC unit gets serviced and looked at before the warm, summer months. The last thing that you’d want is for the AC unit to stop running when you need it the most.

The best time to call for an air conditioning service in Cleveland, TN is usually by the end of the winter or early Spring. You likely won’t need to use your AC unit at either of those times; however, it’d be a great time for an HVAC technician to look at the system and ensure that there’s nothing wrong. Even if a part needs to be replaced, they’ll have more than enough time to make sure that your AC unit is up and running by the summer.

Just because you’ve called for an air conditioning service every year, it doesn’t mean that your AC unit won’t run into any problems. In order to make sure that all of the hard work and effort of the air conditioning service lasts, you’ll need to also be diligent in caring for your HVAC system. Here are some tips and tricks on what you can do to keep your AC unit in tip-top shape.

#1. Change the Air Filters Regularly

An air filter change is included in most air conditioning services; however, getting the air filters changed just once a year might not be enough. This is especially true if you love to blast the AC throughout the entire summer. Chances are that the filters will get dirty a lot quicker. The rate of which the air filters need to be changed will also depend on the environment that you live in, as some areas are dirtier and dirtier than others. If you are someone who uses your AC unit fairly regularly, you might want to consider changing the air filters every month or so. Keep an eye on the filter to see how quickly it gets clogged up. Once it looks quite dirty, change it.

You can ask the air conditioning service technician to show you how to change the air filter, so you don’t have to call them every time. You can also take a look at the owner’s manual for more information. If you notice that the air filters seem to get dirty way too quickly, it could be because you have the wrong type of filter installed. You might need something that is a bit more durable.

A Quick Look at the Different Types of Filters Out There

Not everyone knows how to choose the best air filter for their home, which is why many homeowners will rely on the professional opinion of the air conditioning service technician. In most cases, the technician will choose a filter based on its minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). This is a scale that goes from 1 to 16, and most air filters that you can find in residential buildings will have a MERV that falls between 4 and 13. The higher the MERV, the better it will be at removing contaminants from your air supply. If you struggle with some type of respiratory condition or autoimmune condition, it might be a good idea for you to choose an air filter with a high MERV.

Some of the different options that you can usually pick from include:

• Spun fiberglass filters, which typically have a MERV of between 1 and 4. These filters tend to be cheap and disposable. They’re only able to get rid of large particles and won’t be able to filter out any of the tiny contaminants. With that said, they do have an upside, they are able to allow for maximum airflow.

• Disposable pleated paper or polyester filters, which typically have a MERV between 5 and 8. This is usually the most popular type of air filter that you can find in most residential buildings because they can usually trap 80% to 95% of articles that are at least 5 microns and larger. That’s usually more than enough for most homeowners.

• Disposable pleated high MERV filters, which usually have a MERV that ranges between 11 and 13. These air filters can do an amazing job at trapping small particles, like bacteria, that may be in the air supply. Unlike the two options above, these filters can usually last for quite some time, so if you have them, you might not need to replace the air filters every month.

You’ll really need to take a look at your current HVAC system, the type of air filters that you have, as well as the environment, to determine how often the air filters should be replaced.

#2. Do What You Can to Clean the Exposed Parts

Most homeowners usually won’t feel comfortable taking apart their AC system, as there are a lot of different parts involved. If you accidentally forget to screw on a bolt or a part, you could end up damaging the system. Leave anything that’s related to this to an air conditioning service in Cleveland, TN. The professionals will know what to do and will know how to assemble the AC unit properly at the end of the day.

With that said, this doesn’t mean that you’re helpless and should only wait for an air conditioning service to clean your unit. Do what you can. Take the time to clean reachable parts of the Ac system. This includes the air ducts and any other external parts that you see. Wipe off dirt and dust from the ducts and vents whenever possible and vacuum on a regular basis. You’ll see a huge difference in your AC’s performance. Dust and dirt can easily block airflow and force your AC system to have to work harder in order to cool the room down to your desired temperature. You can also try to clean the fins with a soft-bristled brush. If you’re not sure what you can do, ask the air conditioning service technician to show you.

The air conditioning service technician should be able to walk you through which parts are safe to touch and what you can do to keep them clean. They’ll also provide you with some insight as to the types of cleaning products that you can try using.

#3. Get a Programmable Thermostat

You can really prolong your AC’s lifespan and ensure that the hard work and effort that went into the air conditioning service lasts by making sure that your AC system doesn’t have to run as often or as hard. The best way to do so is to install a smart, programmable thermostat that will be able to automatically adjust the settings and the temperature inside the room based on various factors. You can also control the AC system using these thermostats, so you can turn off the AC system even when you’re not at home.

There are many different types of smart thermostats out there, and finding the right one will make all the difference in the world. Some of these thermostats have geofencing technology that will be able to automatically detect whether anyone is at home based on their phone’s location. These smart thermostats will turn off automatically once everyone leaves the home. They’ll also be able to turn on automatically if you’re within a certain distance of your home, so each room is at your desired temperature by the time that you arrive.

A cool thing about smart thermostats is that they can self-regulate their performance and energy usage. These thermostats are energy-efficient and will allow your AC system to have some downtime so that it doesn’t become rundown. Most air conditioning service technicians will definitely emphasize the importance of giving your AC system some time to rest.

#4. Make Good Use of Your Shades and Blinds

Another thing that you can do to make sure that all of the hard work and efforts that went into the air conditioning service lasts is by making sure that your AC system doesn’t have to run too hard. You can make a real difference if you simply roll down the shades or blinds or cover your windows with some type of coating or window accessory. This will prevent heat from entering your home and warming up the temperature inside the room.

The result is that your AC unit won’t have to work against nature. It will be able to keep the room cooler for a much longer period of time, and it also won’t have to work as hard. This means that your parts won’t become worn down as quickly and that your AC unit will get to enjoy more downtime.

This is also a good time to look for shades and blinds that could really brighten up a room. You’d be surprised at what a difference some window accessories can make. If you take a look at an interior design magazine, you might find the inspiration that you need. For example, balloon shades can really add an air of feminine energy and child-like wonder to the room. On the other hand, some blinds can give the room a more rustic look.

If you’re not interested in any window accessories at all, you might want to consider installing some type of window glazing over the windows. These glazings and coatings are quite easy to install. They’re affordable and will prevent not only heat but also ultraviolet radiation from entering the rooms. Best of all, they’re not very visible, so you won’t notice them at all. They definitely do not restrict your view or the amount of natural light that can enter the room.

#5. Turn On Fans

Last but not least, you can also make sure that your air conditioning service lasts by turning on the fans whenever possible so that your AC unit doesn’t have to run as hard or as long. If the temperature isn’t too hot, a simple fan could really cool down the room. Best of all, these fans are easy to move from one room to another, and you can easily direct the airflow to wherever you want. If you definitely need to turn the AC on, consider turning it on at a higher degree than usual and coupling its effects with a fan. This way, the AC unit won’t have to work as hard in order to make the room a comfortable temperature for everyone.

If you have ceiling fans, consider turning the fans on whenever you turn the AC unit on. If you don’t have any ceiling fans, you’ll find that there are a lot of affordable, portable fans online or at furniture stores. They’re well worth the investment.

Call Us for Air Conditioning Services in Cleveland, TN

To ensure that your AC system runs as smoothly and lasts as long as possible, get it serviced on an annual basis. The air conditioning service can easily determine whether there are any problems that are starting to creep up, and will also make sure that these issues are addressed before they have time to worsen.

If you’re in need of an air conditioning service in Cleveland, TN, contact Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air. We are one of the most experienced HVAC companies in the area, and our technicians have a lot of experience in handling all types of HVAC systems, from ones with ducts to ductless models. Our technicians are also licensed and pride themselves in being able to provide excellent customer service, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.

For more information on what’s included in our air conditioning service, give us a call at 423-250-3502. We’re available at all hours of the day and will be able to provide you with an honest estimate of how much the air conditioning service in Cleveland, TN will cost.