When most homeowners think of spring time, they think of spring cleaning and home maintenance. One more item homeowners should add to their home maintenance list this year is their air conditioning system. Pre-season cooling system maintenance and upgrades will help achieve maximum energy efficiency and savings when the summer heat hits. Jennifer Franz, a Lennox energy efficiency expert, offers the following simple ways to "spring clean" an existing air conditioning system, and tips on how to tell if it's time to replace equipment, before the busy season is in full swing:
Go with the Flow: Leaves, weeds and grass collect on the outdoor condenser unit during the fall and winter months, resulting in blocked air flow and reduced energy efficiency. Clearing debris will allow for unrestricted airflow to better cool the home and improve the systems efficiency, reducing operating costs, keeping the air clean, and increasing energy savings. In addition, changing standard air filters once a month (other types, such as pleated and HEPA filters, have longer life spans) is the single most important thing homeowners can do to prevent a system from working harder than it needs to, which saves homeowners money on electricity bills.
Keep Your Cool: It's also important to ensure ductwork is clean and in good condition. Even if a homeowner keeps their air conditioning system clean, they might still be letting air – and dollars – escape. Adding easy-to-use blow-in insulation will reduce the amount of heat that flows from outdoors into the home, which will lower cooling costs and make the home more comfortable.
Set it and Forget it: Homeowners can get a jump start on the summer season by installing a smart thermostat, such as the Lennox iComfort S30. The iComfort S30 uses geofencing technology to save homeowners money on their energy bills. Its Smart Away Mode detects when a home's occupants are away and automatically adjusts to an energy saving mode.
Spring also is a good time for homeowners to inspect and repair loose siding and seal windows and doors with caulk and weather stripping. This will keep cool air from escaping and increase energy efficiency.
