The use of air conditioners in commercial and residential buildings is becoming common, as ceiling fans were some years back. If you rely on these systems for heating and cooling in your home or workplace, you should ensure that they perform optimally throughout. You should be cautious of increasing energy bills resulting from overdue air conditioner service and repair.
The efficiency of your HVAC unit is important for many reasons. Even if your air conditioner has a low EER rating, many other factors affect its efficiency. Below are some reasons why your heating and cooling system isn’t performing well.
1. Lack of Maintenance
Ignoring or long-overdue maintenance is probably the main reason why your HVAC unit is performing dismally. Like other machines and household components, you should service your air conditioner regularly to improve its performance and energy efficiency. HVAC unit maintenance and repair should be done by licensed professionals.
AC systems work hard to maintain the temperature demands of your home or office all year. Regular maintenance assures smooth and optimal functioning for decades. Prolonging your maintenance schedules worsens common minor problems, necessitating major repairs or replacements. Ideally, you should tune up your system twice every year. One during spring for efficient cooling and the other during fall for optimal heating in winter.
2. System Size
Size also determines the efficiency of your heating and cooling units. You should install the right HVAC unit size from the beginning. Improper sizing leads to inefficient heating and cooling results. If you currently have a small unit, it will work harder and longer to maintain indoor temperatures. This overworks the system, resulting in more energy consumption, high utility bills, and system failure. Your home will also be warmed or cooled insufficiently.
Similarly, you shouldn’t install an extra-large HVAC unit. Using a large unit to cool a small room is expensive and wastes a lot of energy. It also cools or heats indoor air quickly and unevenly. You should engage professionals in heating and cooling Cincinnati to help you choose a rightly sized HVAC unit.
3. System Age
The age of the heating and cooling unit also affects its efficiency in several ways. For starters, the federal regulations that guide the manufacture of HVAC units have changed over time. Modern systems focus on energy efficiency. If your air conditioner is more than ten years old, chances are it consumes a lot of energy.
Secondly, the average lifespan of HVAC units is between 10 and 15 years. Units aged from 10 years should be inspected by professionals to determine their efficiency. Experts can determine if your system can still perform optimally or if you need a new model. In some situations, replacing the unit is more cost-effective than repairing an outdated conditioner.
4. Indoor Air Quality
Air contaminants, such as dust, dirt, pet dander, and debris, can easily get trapped in your systems’ air filters, reducing their efficiency. You should find ways to improve your indoor air quality for better AC functioning.
Endnote
Heating and cooling systems play a big role in ensuring that your indoor environment is comfortable and habitable. Inefficient systems contribute to uneven temperature distribution and high monthly utility bills. You should schedule frequent HVAC inspections and maintenance to ensure that your unit performs optimally.