Air Conditioning Tips

Keeping your HVAC systems maintained regularly is essential for optimizing energy efficiency and extending the lifespan of your equipment. Milani has assembled some advice for you to successfully maintain your air conditioning unit during these hot summer months.

Maintaining Your Air Conditioning in Vancouver is Easy with a Little Effort in the Summer Months!

Keeping your systems for HVAC in Vancouver maintained regularly is essential for optimizing energy efficiency and increasing their lifespan, so we here at Milani have assembled some advice for you to successfully maintain your unit for air conditioning in Vancouver during these hot summer months.

1. Check Your Filter. A dirty filter makes it harder for your system to push cold air out, increasing the amount of energy you use and, therefore, the money you are charged on your energy bill. To save this money, make sure to check and clean your air filter every three months at a minimum (sometimes more in heavy-use seasons). In addition to increasing the energy efficiency of your A/C unit, a clean filter will be more effective at cleaning the air in your home, potentially reducing allergens and illness.

2. Regulate & Calibrate Your Thermostat. Many things can throw off the calibration of your thermostat, including dirt build-up or an accidental knocking. Checking your thermostat’s calibration and accuracy can help you to better control your energy use while getting the actual temperature you want. Not checking them can result in increased energy bills, which nobody wants to pay!

3. Reduce Heat from Sunlight. There are many ways you can reduce heat from sunlight in your home, including blinds, window shades, and tinted windows. These strategies help keep heat from entering the home, allowing air conditioners to work less to keep your home cool and comfortable. Because your air conditioner works less, you may see a marked decrease in your energy bills, making sun protection a worthwhile investment!

4. Clean Your Vents. Like cleaning your air filter, cleaning your vents may reduce the amount of allergens and dust in the air, and it certainly improves the energy efficiency of your air conditioning! Clean your vents to make sure that they are free from dust before seasons when you anticipate using your A/C unit more. This will help you and your family to enjoy fresher, healthier, and more energy efficient air!

These tips are not all-inclusive, but they should help you to start off your summer months with a well-maintained A/C unit. Should you experience problems with your air conditioner, or should you want professional maintenance services, we at Milani will be happy to help. Just give us a call!

Vancouver Air Conditioning Tips

Change Your Filter

Change or clean your filter on a monthly basis if you have a standard type filter.

A good way of remembering is to make note whenever you pay your utility bill, change the filter at that time each month. Remember, your air conditioning system can be far more sensitive to the effects of even a moderately dirty filter than your heating system can be, so it is even more important to change your filter monthly during air conditioning season.

Annual Air Conditioning System Maintenance

Have your air conditioning system serviced by a professional heating and air conditioning technician once per year.

Program Your Thermostat

Use a programmable thermostat to help reduce energy consumption and costs when you’re sleeping or not at home. We recommend setting the thermostat back 5 degrees when no one is home or everyone is sleeping. Milani provides programmable thermostats with “intelligent recovery” that can lower the temperature in your home to the desired temperature based on recent requirements.

Circulate Air with Ceiling Fans

Utilize ceiling fans to help circulate the air when the area is occupied. This will help create a gentle breeze that when in contact with your body will make you feel cooler than the actual temperature. Keep in mind that ceiling fans and other fans do nothing to cool the room or area, so keeping them on when a room is not occupied will not do anything to increase comfort and will cost you unnecessary expenditures in electric utility bills.

Close the Blinds

Keep the sun out! During the day, when no one is home, keep shades and blinds drawn to reduce the heat that direct sunlight generates inside the home. Also, if skylight windows are present, close the blinds for them as well.

Dehumidification

Install a whole-house Dehumidifier. Often, people are uncomfortable more because of high humidity rather than actual heat and they use their central air conditioning system to remove the humidity as opposed to actually cooling the air. A whole-house, duct mounted humidifier can remove uncomfortable moisture from the entire house making it more comfortable. In addition, they use less electricity than a central air conditioning system and remove far more moisture from the air than standard stand alone type dehumidifiers.

When cooking inside, utilize a kitchen exhaust fan to remove unwanted heat from the area around the stove or oven. In addition, use bathroom exhaust fans when showering to remove excess heat and humidity created by the shower.

Maximize Cold Air Output

Make sure all of your air conditioning vents are clear of obstructions and furniture to allow for maximum output from your central air conditioning system.

Do not close registers in un-used rooms. This will restrict airflow and could result in significant damage to your air conditioning system.

Keep your outdoor unit (air conditioner or heat pump) clear of debris and obstructions. Most manufacturers recommend 18” of clearance between the outdoor unit and any obstructions on 2 or 3 sides. If overgrown shrubs or plants are constricting this space, trip them to allow for proper airflow.

Be careful when gardening or trimming grass near your air conditioner or heat pump. There are low voltage and high voltage wires that connect the system to the interior of your home which could easily be damaged and cause the air conditioner to be inoperable and cause physical harm if compromised.

Contact Us

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For immediate assistance please call our customer service line at 250 800 0000.