THE MOST COMMON AIR CONDITIONING MISTAKES WE SEE IN SUMMER

Summer arrives, the temperature starts climbing and suddenly your air conditioner becomes the most important appliance in the house.

But when your air conditioner isn't cooling as well as you'd expect, the problem isn't always with the system itself.

There are a few common mistakes we see homeowners make during summer that can make their air conditioner work harder, reduce its efficiency and sometimes even contribute to unnecessary wear and tear.

Here are some of the most common ones we see across Bendigo and surrounding areas.

1. Setting the thermostat too low

It's 35°C outside, your house is hot and you want it cool — so you set the air conditioner to 16°C.

Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, setting your thermostat extremely low doesn't mean your air conditioner will cool the room faster.

Your air conditioner will work to reach the temperature you've selected, so setting it significantly lower simply gives the system a much bigger job to do.

Instead, choose a comfortable temperature and let your system work towards maintaining it.

If you're coming home to a hot house, it's generally better to start cooling earlier rather than trying to compensate by setting the thermostat to an extremely low temperature.

2. Letting the outdoor unit get blocked

Your outdoor unit needs space around it to operate properly.

It's easy to forget about the unit sitting outside, particularly if it's tucked away down the side of the house or behind a garden.

But over summer, weeds, leaves, grass, plants and other debris can build up around the outdoor unit and restrict airflow.

Make sure the area around your outdoor unit is kept clear and avoid placing objects directly around it.

It's also worth checking the unit before summer starts, particularly if it's located near gardens or trees.

A clear outdoor unit can help your air conditioner operate as it should.

3. Forgetting about your filters

If you can't remember the last time you cleaned your air conditioner's filter, there's a good chance it's overdue.

Split system filters collect dust, dirt and other particles from the air as your system operates. Over time, they can become clogged and restrict airflow.

When airflow is restricted, your air conditioner may need to work harder to achieve the temperature you've selected.

The good news is that checking and cleaning your split system filters is usually a simple job that homeowners can do themselves.

Check your manufacturer's instructions for how often your filters should be cleaned and make it part of your regular summer routine.

If your filters are clean but your system still isn't performing properly, that's when it may be time to have a professional take a look.

4. Choosing the wrong-sized air conditioner

Bigger isn't always better when it comes to air conditioning.

One of the biggest mistakes we see is choosing an air conditioner based purely on the size of the room or assuming that a larger unit will automatically cool better.

An air conditioner that's too small may struggle to keep up with the demands of the space, particularly during Bendigo's hotter summer days.

But an oversized system isn't necessarily the answer either. The right system needs to suit the size and layout of the space, insulation, windows, orientation and other characteristics of your home.

That's why we recommend having your home properly assessed before choosing a new system.

The goal isn't to install the biggest air conditioner you can afford. It's to install one that's appropriately sized for the space it's actually going to cool.

5. Closing too many vents

If you have a ducted air conditioning system, it can be tempting to close vents in rooms you're not using.

And while zoning can be a great way to focus heating and cooling where you need it, simply closing a large number of vents isn't necessarily the same thing.

Your ducted system has been designed to move a certain amount of air through the ductwork. Closing too many outlets can restrict airflow and put additional pressure on the system.

If you regularly find yourself closing off large parts of the house, it may be worth looking into whether your system could benefit from properly designed zoning.

That way, your system can direct airflow to the areas you're actually using rather than relying on manually closing vents.

6. Blocking the airflow around your indoor unit

Your outdoor unit isn't the only part of your air conditioner that needs good airflow.

For a split system, make sure furniture, curtains and other objects aren't sitting directly in front of the indoor unit.

You want the cool air to be able to move freely into the room.

Similarly, if you have a ducted system, make sure furniture or other objects aren't obstructing your ceiling vents.

It sounds obvious, but we've seen plenty of situations where the air conditioner is doing its job — the cool air just isn't getting where it needs to go.

7. Waiting until the house is already boiling

Another common summer mistake is waiting until the hottest part of the day to switch the air conditioner on.

By then, your home may have been absorbing heat for hours through the roof, windows, walls and floors.

Your air conditioner now has to work much harder to bring everything back down to a comfortable temperature.

Getting ahead of the heat can make a big difference.

On particularly hot days, consider starting your cooling earlier and allowing your system to maintain a comfortable temperature rather than waiting until the house is already very hot.

8. Assuming a struggling air conditioner is always broken

If your air conditioner is running constantly on a very hot day, it's easy to assume something must be wrong.

But running for longer periods during extreme weather isn't necessarily a sign of a problem.

Your air conditioner has to work harder when there's a large difference between the temperature inside and outside.

However, if your system consistently struggles to cool your home, airflow has noticeably reduced, you're hearing unusual noises or the system isn't performing as it used to, it's worth having it checked.

Sometimes a simple service can identify an issue before it turns into a much bigger problem.

Avoid the common mistakes and get more from your air conditioner

Most air conditioning mistakes are surprisingly easy to avoid.

Don't set the thermostat unnecessarily low, keep your outdoor unit clear, clean your filters, make sure your system is correctly sized and avoid restricting airflow by closing too many vents.

And if your air conditioner isn't performing the way it should, don't just keep turning the temperature down and hoping for the best.

At Holloway Air & Electrical, we supply, install, service and repair air conditioning systems across Bendigo and surrounding areas.

If you're unsure whether your current system is performing properly, need a service before summer or are considering replacing an older air conditioner, our team can help.

Need help getting your air conditioner ready for summer? Get in touch with Holloway Air & Electrical today.