Top 10 Things You Can Do to Extend the Life of Your Air Conditioner Most central air conditioners have a life span of about 15 years. Replacement can be expensive so you want to do everything you can to extend the life of your AC. Here are a few things you can do to get the most from your air conditioner. Keep the condenser clear. The condenser is the part of the air conditioning unit that sits outside the house and actually does the cooling. By keeping shrubs trimmed back and brush, grass clipping and other debris cleared away, you’ll be helping the unit to run more efficiently. Help your air conditioner to stay cool. Plant shrubs or small trees between the sun and the AC unit. By keeping the direct sun off of the air conditioner, you’ll cut down on the amount of work it has to do. Just don’t plant so close to the unit that leaves and debris will be a problem. Clean the air conditioner on a regular basis. Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions on cleaning your particular unit.

In most cases you can use a broom and garden hose to wash out the leaves and dirt, but you need to use care around coils as they can be easily damaged. Be sure to turn off the power to the AC unit before cleaning. Change the filters in your air conditioner regularly. How often you need to change the filters will depend on how often you use the air conditioner and the air quality but on average it should be every 30 to 60 days. Keep furniture and other obstacles away from the cooling vents. By allowing a clear pathway for the cool air to enter the room you’re creating better circulation which means your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard.It can save you quite a bit of money over the course of the cooling season and make less work for the AC. Set the thermostat to keep you cool when you’re home but higher when you’re away. You can also set it higher for night time when the air temperature is naturally cooler. Check the ducts for loose seams and gaps. Tape all joints where the ducts attach to each other and wrap ducts with insulation.

This will prevent loss of cool air before it reaches its intended destination. Use alternative methods to help keep you and your home cool. Install ceiling fans to improve air circulation. Use blinds and heavy drapes to block out the sun’s heat. Avoid using heat producing appliances such as the oven or the heat drying cycle on the dishwasher. Turn on the kitchen exhaust vent to remove the hot air while cooking but use kitchen and bath exhausts sparingly to prevent having the cool air drawn out as well. Have your air conditioner serviced regularly. A professional can often spot potential problems before they become serious. Annual tune ups and minor repairs could add years of energy efficient life to your air conditioner. Figuring Out the Life Span of Your Air Conditioner During our hot, humid Indiana summers, a reliable air conditioner is a necessity to keep your home cool and comfortable. If your A/C doesn’t seem to work well anymore, you may be wondering how long it will last.

There are easy to recognize signs that can help you figure out your air conditioner’s expected life span, and whether it’s time to talk to your HVAC contractor about replacement. Telltale Clues to Your Air Conditioner’s Life Spangreen ac unit The A/C’s age – The average air conditioner life span is roughly 15 years. moving your ac unitIf yours is over 10 years old, you can expect to see a steady loss of cooling capacity and efficiency. ac unit gets hotOlder equipment is more prone to breakdowns too, so necessary repairs are more frequent. By replacing your A/C before these problems escalate, you can save on energy and repair costs and avoid an inconvenient mid-cooling-season equipment failure. Poor humidity control – As air moves across the evaporator coil of a well-functioning air conditioner, excess moisture is drawn out and then expelled outdoors via the condensate drain.

As an A/C gets older and less efficient at moving air, it’s not able to dehumidify a home as effectively. If you’re experiencing uncomfortably high indoor humidity levels, mold and mildew issues, musty odors and/or damage to wood trim, ceilings and paint, it can be a clear sign that your older A/C is ready for retirement. Excessive energy costs – Are your energy consumption and seasonal utility costs rising year after year even though your day-to-day cooling needs haven’t changed? If so, the equipment may be reaching the end of its service life. If it’s an older model, the A/C’s seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) may not provide optimal efficiency either. Replacing an older 10 SEER unit with an new 16 SEER model can cut 60 percent from your annual energy costs. Opting for an efficient Energy Star-rated unit can boost those savings by an additional 15 percent. If you need help figuring out your air conditioner life span, please contact us today at Meyer’s. We’ve proudly served Griffith, Highland, Gary and the surrounding areas since 1951.

How big are the rooms? Willer Suites 11’5′ x 16 ; Friars 11 6 x 19 6 ; Helein, Padua & Garner 10’6′ x 15’6′ What are the measurements for the dresser? How much space is between the two beds? Can I bunk the bed? All beds can be bunked. We do not allow lofts. How much space from the floor to the bottom of the bed? How big is the closet? They are comparable in size to the average hotel room closet. How many outlets are in the room? What should I bring? Whatever you would not be comfortable living without. Remember, however, that these are residence hall rooms, and there is a limited amount of space. Items not allowed are: halogen lamps, hot plates, space heaters and anything with an open heating element. Is there a sink in the room? Sinks are only in some of the Friar’s Hall rooms. What size are the mattresses? All mattresses are extra long twin.  Their length is 80 inches.  Extra long sheets will fit all beds, including standard.

Should I bring a lamp? A desk lamp is recommended, however for safety, halogen lamps and spider lamps are not allowed. Can I nail pictures to the walls?nails are not permitted as this would damage the walls. Can I put tape on the walls? Scotch tape is preferred; no gray duct tape, no tacky putty, NO NAILS. Should I bring a rug? Many students like to bring an area rug to coordinate their rooms with their decor. What furniture is provided in rooms? Rooms have a bed, dresser, desk & chair. Double rooms have 2 of these items. Do we provide refrigerators or microwaves? Which buildings are air conditioned? All the residence halls and houses are air conditioned except for Padua Hall.  Students living in Padua who would like air conditioning will be charged $300 (for installation and electricity) and are required to bring their own AC unit.  The unit cannot exceed 5000 BTUs. Are there storage spaces in the halls? There is storage in each hall, however, space is limited and we do not assume responsibility for stored items.

What about telephone service? With the increase in cell phone service, Quincy University does not provide land line telephone service. Do the rooms have cable? Yes, all rooms have cable which is included in the room fees. How big can the refrigerator be? No larger than 5 cubic feet. Can both my roommate & I have a refrigerator?Work this out with your roommate before you get here. There are limited power outlets, and space is also limited. Do I need a computer cord? Cat 5 cables are available in the Bookstore if needed. Contact our IT Services Office at 217-228-5250.  In addition, the campus does have wireless coverage in a majority of the residence halls.  IT Services or Residence Life Staff can assist you in setting up your computer at the beginning of each school year. How far is the outlet from the desk? There is an outlet by each desk, and one by each dresser. Should I bring winter clothes? Yes, if you will not be going home before winter hits.