The signs you may be killing your A/C

It's only the start of summer 2012, and already this week's 90 degree temps have air conditioners failing across the Cincinnati area.

Service men like Levon Sackett are hard at work to repair old A/C units that can't keep up with this heat wave.

"Their air conditioner wasn't keeping up with the temperature they had it set to, it was warm and uncomfortable inside," Sackett said.

Repairman Steve Prather says if your central air is running nonstop without ever turning off, it may have low coolant. That can lead to compressor failure after a few days, and an expensive repair.

Prather says you should have it checked.

"The less you run it, the better off you are obviously, for your energy bills and the life of the unit," he said.

What You Can Do
    
Steve and other A/C experts have the following advice if your A/C is working too hard:

Turn up your thermostat: It saves money and saves your compressor. The ideal summer temperature is 76 to 78 degrees, not 70 to 72.

You can turn up the air a few degrees when you go out, but don't turn it off completely. It has to work too hard when you come back home and the house is hot.

Killing Your A/C

So the warning signs you may be killing your a/c?

    -The compressor is running all day and night without  turning off.

     -The A/C can't get the house down to a comfortable temperature (around 76 degrees).

    --You are trying to cool your house down to 70 when it is 90 out.

     -The outdoor unit has become unusually loud, or makes a loud squeaking sound.

    --You can't remember the last time you changed the filter: 

A clogged filter will make it work much too hard. Change it monthly in the summer.

As always, don't waste your money.
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