Keep Old A/C System Working Well
A central air conditioning system can last 15 years --- and remain efficient --- if you maintain it properly.
- Clean the outside compressor with a hose, and vacuum vents and replace filters every month during the summer to maximize airflow and help the air system operate efficiently.
- Have the ductwork cleaned and inspected every two or three years. Leaky ducts can lose as much as 30 percent of the air that flows through them.
- Avoid setting the thermostat extra-low to cool the house quickly. It doesn’t cool things off any faster than leaving the setting at a comfortable, higher temperature, and it wastes energy.
- Move lamps and heat producing appliances away from the thermostat. The heat they produce tricks the thermostat into “thinking” the home is warmer than it is, which makes your air conditioner work harder than it needs to.
- Install ceiling fans, which allow you to set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer. For every degree you raise your thermostat, you save up to 8 percent in cooling costs.
- Consider replacing your central air conditioning system after about 10 years. Newer models are up to 40 percent more energy efficient.