Over time, your air-conditioner can become less efficient. Reduced airflow and warmer air are often signs that it's time to invest in a new air conditioning unit. However, before you decide to make this big investment, you should inspect your system to determine where the problem really is. By running three basic checks to your system, you can often diagnose and fix the problem, without having to spend too much money. 

Cleaning the Air Registers

The first thing you want to do is check your air registers. First, make sure your vents are open. This sounds obvious, but many people cannot figure out why they have reduced airflow, but they never double checked the vents. Next, you should remove the registers from the wall and give them a thorough cleaning. When the registers are taken off the wall, you will be able to easily clean them. You should also inspect and clean the duct around the edge of the wall. This is often where dust builds up. If you have dirty vents, you should notice significantly better airflow after cleaning them.

Cleaning the Condenser Coils

Next, you should go out to your air conditioning unit and clean the condenser coils. The condenser coils line the exterior walls of the air conditioning unit. You can easily clean them by just spraying them down with a hose. Make sure you unplug your air conditioner's power supply before you spray it. Dirty coils will reduce the air conditioner's ability to suck in air. This can reduce airflow and make it more difficult for it to produce cold air.

Changing or Cleaning the Furnace Filter

The final thing you should check and replace is the filter in the furnace. The furnace filter will actually affect the air conditioner. Most central heating and air conditioning systems blow all the air through the furnace, and therefore the furnace filter. A dirty filter will significantly reduce airflow in your home. You can easily change the filter without any tools. It is usually located behind the small door at the front of the furnace. If it is not very dirty, just dust it off and put it back in place.

After making these three basic repairs, you might notice that your heating and air-conditioning units are running much better. You can instantly start to save a little money on your utility bills and put less stress on your AC unit. Contact a company like Quality HomEnergy for more information.