Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips

July 22, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Most homeowners have their air conditioners kicked into full gear about now. In order to help your utility bill down and prevent a breakdown, you might want to follow simple steps.

Phil Rizzo is a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning instructor at Coyne College ( www.coynecollege.edu ) in Chicago. He shows us how to improve the efficiency of your air conditioning units.

TIPS

Maintenance
• Hose down the outdoor condenser every month.
• Keep bushes, shrubs and pets away from outdoor units.
• Replace air filters after 30 days.
• Have a qualified technician service your air conditioner once a season.

Air Filters
• Fiberglass air filters are adequate for most homes.
• HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are best for allergy sufferers and homes with pets.
• HEPA filters can last 90 days. However, they must be monitored because dirty HEPA filters can put additional strain on the air conditioner.

Thermostat
• Set temperatures higher during the day if nobody is home.
• The hotter it gets inside during the day, the longer it takes to cool down again.
• Programmable thermostats automatically adjust day and evening temperatures.
• Recommended settings are 80 degrees when nobody is home, 74 - 76 degrees when home is occupied.

Repair
• Check the circuit breaker first.
• Always use a qualified service technician for repairs.

Coyne College
• Founded in 1899 in Chicago.
• Loop and West Loop locations.
• HVAC degree and diploma programs.
• Programs for Electrical Construction, Pharmacy Tech, Medical Administration, Medical Assisting and Medical Billing/Coding.

MORE ABOUT PHIL RIZZO

Phil Rizzo has been an HVAC instructor with Coyne College in Chicago since 2010. Before that, he was an instructor and quality control/field supervisor for Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning in Chicago. Mr. Rizzo has more than 20 years experience in the HVAC field, including installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, supervision and education. His work has been with both commercial and residential air conditioning and heating.

Get more Resources »

resources

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•