Living in a hot, humid climate like Florida’s Gulf Coast means relying on your air conditioning for much of the year to keep your home cool. The amount of work your air conditioning has to do can take a heavy toll on your HVAC system, no matter whether you have a standard AC, a heat pump, or a ductless mini-split. As such, it’s no wonder that HVAC equipment in hot climates typically doesn’t last nearly as long as it does in places with milder, drier summers.
In a mild climate, cooling equipment usually lasts for around 15 years, if not longer. In our area, it’s not uncommon to have to replace your HVAC system after only 10 years or sometimes even sooner. The good news is that there are a number of effective steps you can take to help protect your HVAC system and extend its lifespan. This article will explain some of the best things you can do in this regard and what impact they have.
Don’t Set the Temperature Too Low
We’ll start with the most obvious thing you should do, which is making sure you’re not setting your thermostat too low. The EPA recommends keeping your thermostat set to 78 degrees during the summer when you’re home during the day and turning it up another 4 degrees or so before leaving for work and again before going to bed. Nonetheless, most people find 78 degrees to be much too warm. Even if you just keep your thermostat at around 74 degrees, you can still help protect the life of your HVAC system by limiting how much it runs.
Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
Setting your thermostat higher during the times you’re sleeping and when no one is home is important for minimizing the amount of wear and tear your HVAC system experiences during the hotter months. While the majority of homes nowadays have a programmable thermostat, studies have repeatedly shown that a substantial percentage of people don’t actually bother to program their thermostat.
There’s nothing wrong with just manually turning the temperature up and down since it will have the same effect as if you programmed the settings. The problem is that there are many times you may forget to change the temperature. That means your AC may either run more than necessary during the day when your house is empty or not run enough, leading to your house being much too warm when you get back from work.
This issue is something you’ll never have to worry about if you install a smart thermostat, since you can turn the temperature up and down from your phone no matter where you are. The best smart thermostats have a function that allows them to learn your behavior patterns. Within a few weeks, the thermostat can then start changing the temperature itself based on your normal routine. That means your HVAC system will only run as much as necessary and use less energy. Some units can even send you maintenance reminders or alert you when your HVAC system isn’t working as well as it should, so you can then get it serviced or repaired.
Check the Condition of the Air Filter Monthly
One thing that will almost certainly shorten the life of your HVAC system is neglecting to replace the air filter when it’s dirty and starts clogging up. The basic rule of thumb is to replace it every two to three months at the least. However, this rule isn’t always applicable during the summer in a hot climate. That’s because the more hours your HVAC system runs each day, the more debris the filter will trap and the quicker it will start to clog. If you have dogs or cats in the house, all of the pet hair that gets stuck to the filter will also cause it to clog more quickly—especially if you don’t keep up with brushing your pets and cleaning your floors frequently.
The dirtier the air filter is, the more it restricts the amount of air that the HVAC blower can draw in. That means the system won’t cool as quickly, resulting in increased run times and greater wear and tear. That’s why it’s important to remove the filter and check how dirty it is every month so you don’t risk waiting too long to replace it.
Close Curtains and Blinds During the Day
While this tip may seem simple, it can make a massive difference in how hot your home gets and how much work your air conditioning system has to do. The reason is the amount of solar heat gain your house gets from sunlight shining in through windows. North-facing windows contribute very little to heat gain. East-facing windows aren’t a huge contributor either, since they only receive direct sunlight in the early part of the day. West-facing and south-facing windows are major contributors to heat gain and will cause your house to quickly heat up if left uncovered during the day.
Make Sure Your Ductwork Is in Good Condition and Properly Insulated
Many homes have issues with old, leaky air ducts, resulting in the HVAC system not working nearly as effectively as it should. The problem with leaky ducts is that they make your air conditioning work more slowly due to some of the cooled air getting lost. In some cases, you can see more than a 20% decrease in the effectiveness and energy efficiency of your HVAC system. Leaky ductwork in the attic is especially problematic. Leaky ducts also harm your indoor air quality.
An even bigger issue is if the supply ducts in your attic aren’t properly insulated. The temperature inside an attic is often at least 40 degrees higher than the temperature outside during the summer due to all of the heat that gets absorbed by the roof. If attic ducts aren’t insulated, the hot air also causes the sheet metal to get extremely hot. This then results in the cooled air heating up massively as it flows through the ducts and the AC system performing much more poorly.
Schedule Twice-Yearly HVAC Maintenance
While all of the previous tips can make a major impact on how long your HVAC system lasts, the thing that makes the biggest difference is whether the system is properly maintained. Without regular air conditioning maintenance, any type of HVAC system will develop a range of issues that contribute to poor performance and increased wear and tear.
Scheduling a tune-up at the start and end of each cooling season will make sure your HVAC system remains in peak condition and runs as little as possible. In many cases, semi-annual maintenance can add several years of life to the system while also helping to prevent breakdowns and repairs. It can make a major difference in how high your energy bills are as well. Our maintenance plan makes it easy to keep up and includes discounts as well.
Air Zero is a proudly veteran-owned and operated company offering expert HVAC services in Largo, St. Petersburg, and the surrounding communities. We specialize in general HVAC and cooling maintenance, repairs and installation, and have what it takes to keep your HVAC system running well. To get the help you need with keeping your home comfortable, contact us today.
