If you have ever been to a house that is too hot, you know what a hassle it can be to stay there for more than half an hour or so. It’s more like torture than anything else. Luckily, air conditioners exist so that we don’t have to suffer through those 105-degree temperatures all summer long. Plus, if we had them at home then our friends and family members would always be able to visit us without having to worry about how uncomfortable they would feel once they get inside the house. Air conditioning makes it easier for everyone—and not just for the people who live in homes with central A/C units. It also makes it easier for the environment as a whole because fewer people are forced to spend time outside due to excessive heat or cold. However, while using an air conditioner is undoubtedly beneficial, there are certain things that these appliances should never do in order to protect the well-being of everyone living in the house and beyond.
Set the thermostat at 72 degrees.
Humans are cold-blooded creatures, which means our bodies run best at a temperature between 98.6 and 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. So, when the temperature in your house is set a little lower than that, you can expect to be a little more comfortable. Now, a thermostat is not a thermos so it’s possible that you could set it higher than that, but there is a good chance you could set it to a temperature that is too low for you. So, if you’re in doubt, err on being too warm. If you want to make sure that your air conditioner is set at the ideal temperature, you can get a programmable thermostat. This way, you will be able to set it to whatever temperature you like, but you will also be able to set it on a timer so that it turns off automatically when you don’t need the cool air.
Put your air conditioner on a timer to turn off automatically.
If you’re running your AC constantly, you’re definitely wasting energy. You shouldn’t be using your air conditioner when there is no heat wave or extreme weather conditions. So, why not set it to turn on automatically when you want it to? That way, you will never have to think about it again. If your air conditioner has a built-in timer, make sure that you set it to turn it on when you want to cool down the house and turn it off when you don’t.
Turn the fan on constantly and run it at high speed.
The most surprising thing about this is that it actually happens. Who would have thought that in order to keep the air conditioner running, you would need to keep the fan on constantly? If a thought like this ever crosses your mind, you should act on it immediately. Stop. Put your hand over your mouth. Okay, now we can breathe again. This sounds silly, but there are actually people who think like this. We know this to be true because we have been in houses like that and seen it happen with our own eyes. You have to be vigilant if this is what you’re dealing with. Make sure that you aren’t letting the air conditioner do its job while there is still a fan blowing in it.
Run the air conditioner at a low speed and turn on the fan only when you need it.
If your air conditioner only runs at low speed, then it’s definitely causing damage to your appliances and even your walls. When your air conditioner runs at the lowest speed possible, it slows the evaporation of the water inside your evaporator coil which rapidly damages these components. The low speed also means that your air conditioner is not getting rid of the humidity in the air as quickly as it should, which can lead to condensation on windows and walls. And, just like when your AC is too hot, condensation is bad news. So, if you’re in a house with low-speed air conditioning and you notice any condensation on the windows or walls, you should get it fixed as soon as possible.
Call the rescue team if you smell gas.
This seems like something that would only ever happen in a movie or a story you read online. But, unfortunately, it’s something that actually happens. So, before you call the police and have them come to your house to investigate whether or not there is a gas leak inside, make sure that there is a very good chance that there is. If you smell gas in your home, or you see something like this, then you should call 911 immediately. The first responders will come to your house and will check to see if there is any gas leak inside. If they don’t find any gas leak, they will shut off the gas to prevent a dangerous situation.
Don’t shake your mattress or pillows to get rid of moisture.
We’ve all done it before. We’ve all stood near our air conditioner and shaken our pillows and mattresses to get rid of any water that may have collected on them. You should know right away that this is a bad idea because there is a chance that you will accidentally break the pipes inside your central air conditioning unit. This will ruin your central air conditioning unit and it could also cause your neighbor’s air conditioners to malfunction. So, don’t shake your pillows and mattresses near your central air conditioner.
Don’t operate your A/C for no reason.
This sounds like something out of a children’s cartoon. And, in a way, it is. But, it’s also a reality that we need to live with. Central air conditioners are very important pieces of machinery and they run on electricity. If you leave your air conditioner on for no reason, then it will use electricity which will increase your utility bill and, in turn, your electric bill.