Your heating and air conditioning system ensures that your indoor space is comfortable throughout the year. In most cases, the systems use electricity or gas to run, and if they're not optimized, you end up paying more than you should. You're also more likely to experience a system breakdown that will need even more money to resolve. However, you don't have to wait until the system breaks down to look for someone to fix it. Instead, you can learn about common mistakes when handling your air conditioning systems and how to avoid them. Here are the top four common errors to avoid.

Keeping the System Dirty

One of the most common mistakes people make is failing to clean the system. You should know that parts like the condenser get constantly exposed to dust, foliage, and grime from the outdoors. As such, cleaning helps improve the efficiency of heat dissipation, which, in turn, improves the system's overall functionality. In addition, filters play a crucial role in ensuring that the air circulating in your home is clean and allergen-free. As such, they accumulate dust and lose efficiency if you don't clean or change them often enough. On the other hand, cleaning them improves the air quality inside the home. Additionally, you should also clean the ductwork, vents, and floor registers to ensure that the entire system is free from mold, dust, and other contaminants. This way, your family will suffer fewer allergies, and your HVAC will not be forced to work harder and consume more energy.

Setting Up the Thermostat Wrongly

The thermostat is like the brain of your heating and air conditioning system. As such, when you tune it correctly, you get optimal temperature and airflow inside the home. However, you might have cold spots and other temperature imbalances in the house if you don't. This will force your unit to overcompensate or run longer than it should, consuming more power. So, if you're unsure how to tune your thermostat, you can ask an HVAC maintenance technician to assess it and calibrate it.

Neglecting Professional Maintenance

There's a lot you must do to keep your air conditioning system in a perfect state throughout the year. However, it is best to leave some aspects of the maintenance to the professionals. For example, bi-annual maintenance checks will not cost much money but will have countless benefits. Not only will they increase the unit's lifespan, but they will also ensure timely repairs to avoid costly breakdowns and component failure.

Consult an HVAC maintenance service such as Steve Patrick Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc. to avoid these air conditioning mistakes that raise your bills. With their help, you can keep your air conditioner at optimum efficiency and improve your home's air quality and comfort.