Tips For Reducing The Strain On Your AC Unit

As soon as you turn your AC unit on for the first time, it begins to wear out. While this a pessimistic way to look at using an AC system, it can help you realize how important it is to reduce the strain on your unit in any way possible. The less your system has to run, after all, the less wear it incurs. To reduce the load on your AC unit, take steps to reduce heat gain in your home. 

Windows

If you have single-pane windows in your home, you should replace them with double-pane, gas-filled windows to improve the insulation they provide. So doing will help to keep heat outside and cold air inside. On the other hand, the sun's UV rays can still stream right through your windows no matter how many panes you have or what sort of gas they have inside. Once inside your home, UV rays will heat up your furniture and the interior surfaces of your home. To prevent this from happening, you need to install UV-filtering film on your windows. Low-e film, for example, can reduce your cooling costs by up to 23% by reducing the amount of UV light that makes it into your home. While your savings on cooling costs don't mean that your AC system is running any better, they do mean that your AC unit does not have to run as long or as hard. 

Roofing

While 30% of heat gain enters through your windows, they are not the only source of heat gain in a home. An asphalt-shingle roof can reach temperatures of well over 150 degrees. While the insulation in your attic will block much of this heat from entering your home, some heat can enter your home through light fixtures and other chinks in your home's heat defense. Unlike asphalt shingles, which absorb the sun's energy, metal roofing is naturally reflective and will thus reflect the sun's light and energy away from your home. The right roofing can reduce your cooling costs by as much as 40%

Because an AC unit is designed to cool your home down once it starts heating up, anything you can do to prevent your home home from heating up in the first place will help to reduce the need to run your AC unit. Not only will this help you to save money on operating costs, but it will also reduce the need for maintenance and repairs. Improve your home's defenses against heat gain to help yourself save money on AC-related costs. 

For AC repair services, contact a company such as Phil's Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

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