blog-fi-air-conditioner-repair-punta-gorda-1-5eac9999cc383.jpg

Common AC Mistakes to Avoid

Some people buying houses are experiencing the beauty that is central air conditioning for perhaps the first time. Believe it or not, many homes still don’t have central air conditioning built-in. Or, if you did grow up with AC in the home, we’re sure you remember your mom or dad telling you not to touch the thermostat and that “it’s not a toy.” Having air conditioning in your home may seem pretty straight forward — and for the most part, it is. But, there are definitely some mistakes you should avoid if you are relatively unfamiliar with how centralized air conditioning works. That’s why in today’s blog at Boyd Brother’s Services, we are going to talk about a few common mistakes people make when they are new to using centralized air conditioning.

Don’t have air conditioning in your home or is your home in need of air conditioning repair? Contact our air conditioning repair team at Boyd Brothers Services in Punta Gorda today!

Buying the Wrong Size

It may not sound like a very big deal, but choosing the right size AC unit to match your house is actually very important. If you choose a unit that is too small for the square footage of your home, it will have to work significantly harder than an appropriately sized one would have to. The extra work your AC unit is putting in will lead to additional energy consumption, higher bills, lower lifespan, and increased risk of breaking down. You may be tempted to save a quick buck by purchasing a less expensive, smaller AC unit for your home. But trust us, between the air conditioning repair bill and the increased utility bills, you would save more money long-term by purchasing the correct size the first time around. If you need help determining the right size AC unit for you so you can avoid costly air conditioning repair bills, feel free to reach out to our team at Boyd Brothers Services in Punta Gorda.

Setting Your Thermostat Too Low

Another common mistake/misconception that people unfamiliar with AC have is that if you set your thermostat lower, it will cool down more quickly. The truth is, you are much better off setting your thermostat at the desired temperature and letting your HVAC system do its thing. Some people feel super hot in the moment and crank the dial all the way down to 50 degrees. This may seem like a good idea at the time, but in reality, your AC will just work endlessly because it’s unlikely it will ever be able to achieve the temperature indoors in the summer. When your AC is running constantly around the clock with no breaks, you can damage your unit and wind up with NO AC at all! Skip the air conditioning repair bill and turn your thermostat to a reasonable temperature rather than to sub-zero temperatures.

Neglecting Maintenance

In our last blog post, we went into depth about the importance of regular AC maintenance. For brevity’s sake, we will give you the basics here. If you continue to ignore AC maintenance year after year, you are playing a dangerous game. You are rolling the dice on whether or not your AC will break down at any given moment. Not to mention you are likely reducing its overall lifespan, decreasing its efficiency, and increasing your utility bills each month due to your system working harder. Regular HVAC maintenance is generally pretty simple and straightforward. You can call our team for affordable routine maintenance technicians before the summer season or even perform it yourself if you are so inclined. If you don’t, you will likely be calling us for air conditioning repair services sooner rather than later!

Forgetting About Ceiling Fans

Many homes, both modern and older, have built-in ceiling fans to help circulate air. Utilize them! Fans move the air around your home, creating a cooling effect on your skin as it passes by. Fans are a fantastic way to make you feel cooler without the temperature actually being cooler. If your home is only a little toasty, sometimes opening windows and doors and running the ceiling fans will be enough to keep you comfortable throughout the whole day. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the fresh outdoor air as a bonus. You can also maximize the effectiveness of your air conditioning by using fans and your AC unit in tandem! Just don’t make the mistake about forgetting about the underdog of the home-cooling game: the ceiling fan.

Opening Windows and Doors

Now we know that we just recommended opening your doors and windows and using them with ceiling fans. To be clear, that is a good tactic for if it isn’t scorching hot outside and your air conditioning isn’t running. If you are running your air conditioner, do NOT make the mistake of keeping your windows and doors open. You are allowing hot air into your home and nullify all of the hard work your AC unit has been doing to cool down the air. In most cases, you’ll probably feel even hotter than you would have had you just shut the windows and doors. It is also worth noting that kitchen vents and bathroom fans are also guilty of removing the cold air your HVAC system worked so hard to produce and distribute. So be mindful of leaving bathroom fans and kitchen vents on for long periods of time while your AC is working hard.

Also, as we mentioned earlier, making your AC unit work harder than it needs to can wind up damaging the unit and decreasing its lifespan. We want to help you avoid having to pay for air conditioning repair services!

Not Calling Boyd Brothers Services for Air Conditioning Repair

Perhaps the biggest mistake you could make with your AC unit is not calling our team at Boyd Brothers Services in Punta Gorda for air conditioning repair as soon as it needs it! This would be a mistake for two reasons. One: we are a highly qualified, Top Rated Local® HVAC service with years of experience and a respectable reputation in the community! And two: the longer you wait to take care of air conditioning repairs, the more severe and costly they become.

If you or someone you know is in need of air conditioner installation, air conditioner repairs, or routine air conditioner maintenance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Boyd Brothers Services in Punta Gorda! We have been serving our community since 1984 and are happy to help in any way we can.