For sufferers of hay fever, you know how horrid it can be when even if indoors for a cool-down, you still end up suffering from itchy eyes and a throat that feels like it’s lined with a judicial helping of sandpaper. While Ragweed doesn’t carry a massive allergy threat during the summer months – tree and grass pollen do, something that Port St. Lucie residents are probably all too aware of. In fact, in 2016 tree and grass pollen were often rated ‘extreme’ by most major weather forecasters for the Port St. Lucie area. One of the primary culprits of indoor allergen exposure, is your air conditioner. Your air conditioner can be your best friend during the summer, but it can also be your worst enemy.
How? You ask. How can my lifeline in the sticky summer months become my enemy?
The answer…poor air conditioner maintenance. During the allergy high season (between May and September), you should be performing monthly checks on: the air filters, air condenser and outdoor section of the unit. If you are unsure how to do this, you have a couple of options.
Firstly, call a professional. There are numerous aesthetic and technical signs that you might miss, so it might be best to leave this to a professional.
Second, if you have had your air conditioner for more than 7 years, it might be worth a trip down to your local wholesale air conditioner store to get that AC replacement you’ve been putting off.
Beyond the obvious health benefits, there are wealth benefits too. The average electricity residential rates in Port St. Lucie is 12.46% less than the national average rate of 11.88¢/kWh. However, a clogged up, poorly maintained or old air conditioning unit will need to work harder in order to produce a sufficient air flow. This can cause overheating and increase your electrical costs over the long-term. Think about it, if you are going to use your air conditioner more often, or for longer than necessary, then your bills are only going to increase. The moral of the story here is simple – keep a good air conditioner maintenance schedule. By properly maintaining your air conditioner, you decrease the chance of nasty allergens and pollutants entering your home. Furthermore, with proper maintenance, you can avoid spending loads on AC replacement, and even save on those potentially costly maintenance bills.