If this is your first home, you likely do not know all of the mistakes you can make with your HVAC unit. To keep your air conditioner running efficiently, learn some air conditioning mistakes you should avoid this summer.

Letting the Thermostat Get Hot

Do not put anything that generates heat, such as stereos, televisions, computers, etc., close to the thermostat. If you do, the temperature reading on the thermostat will rise, which will cause your HVAC unit to work harder to keep your house cool.

Cooling an Empty House

Instead of letting your air conditioner run all day when you are not home, turn the thermostat up so it will not come on. It will not take long to cool your house down when you get home. This not only saves you money, but also gives your air conditioner a break, which can help it last longer.

Keeping HVAC Unit in the Sun

When installing an HVAC unit, the contractor should know the best location for it. If you are installing it yourself, however, you should choose a spot that gets mostly shade. If the sun is directly shining down on the unit it heats it up. When this happens, it thinks your house is hot, and will come on when it should not.

Letting Debris Build Up

When doing yard work, make sure there is no debris around your HVAC unit. Things like sticks, leaves, grass from mowing the lawn, dryer vents, etc., are sources of this debris. When this happens, the HVAC unit cannot get adequate airflow, it can clog the condenser coils, and the air conditioner will not run efficiently.

Turning Off Ceiling Fans

If your home has ceiling fans, do not turn them off in the summer. Make sure when they are on, you have them set to go clockwise instead of counter-clockwise. This will pull any hot air upward, which makes your house feel cooler. If you currently do not have ceiling fans in your home, consider installing them throughout your house to give your HVAC unit a little help.

Running Exhaust Fans

You should only run the exhaust fans in your bathrooms and kitchen when you absolutely have to. When they are running, they push the cool air out of your home.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make with your HVAC unit is not having it serviced each year by a company like Cole Air Conditioning & Appliance Co. Basic maintenance can keep it running more efficiently, and extend the life of the air conditioner.