There are distinct differences between whole-home air conditioners and ductless mini-split air conditioners. If you have the latter, read on as local air conditioner repair contractor Cooper Bros shares some tips on how to get the most from it during the summer season.
Set the fan to auto. Each ductless air conditioner is equipped with an air handler that automatically adjusts fan speed as needed. Don’t fiddle with the fan speed: simply set it to auto. Your air conditioner will take care of the rest.
Don’t turn it off. This tip applies to all types of air conditioning systems with a thermostat. Air conditioners consume more energy upon turning on because they have to cool the entire house. While this is less of a problem with a ductless air conditioner due to the smaller space it has to cool, you can nevertheless save on your energy bills if you just keep it running.
If your daily routine includes leaving the house for the day, program your thermostat to raise the room temperature by about 10 degrees, then have it return the usual temperature by the time you return. Doing this can help reduce strain on your air conditioner and the likelihood of an unexpected AC repair.
Clean the air filter. Unlike their whole-home counterparts, ductless air conditioners come with washable user-removable air filters. This means you don’t have to buy replacement air filters for your ductless air conditioner. The user guide should have instructions on how to open the evaporator unit’s front panel, remove the filter and wash it properly. Make sure that it’s completely dry before putting it back to prevent mold growth.
Leave interior doors open to allow for airflow. If your ductless air conditioner is shared between rooms, you can achieve more efficient cooling by leaving the interior doors open to allow for airflow between the rooms. The temperature difference will be about five degrees, but this can help reduce the air conditioning workload, which can result in energy savings and improved AC service life.
Cooper Bros is your leading provider of heating and cooling services, including home furnace repair. Give us a call at (408) 662-1538 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in San Jose and the surrounding communities.