Top 6 Air Conditioner Accessories You Need This Summer
Before the summer season hits us in full swing, it is necessary to have a fully-functional air conditioner that cools you down swiftly!
In this article we’ll walk you through the various AC accessories available out there and how you can benefit from them.
Air conditioners have become a necessity in modern times. It is now considered as a need rather than a luxury. The US, with a household air-conditioning penetration of 90%, ranks second highest globally with regards to AC usage in homes and accounts for about 12% of the U.S. home energy expenditures.
If you own an air conditioner, then there are some accessories that you should consider buying to keep your air conditioner unit running smoothly. Picking the right accessories might seem daunting, but our compilation will help you choose the best and most used air conditioner accessories that you need for a high performing system.
Your Go to Air Conditioner Accessories List
Some of the essential accessories have been listed below:
- Smart AC Controller
- Extra AC Filter
- Fin Comb Set
- Coil Cleaning Liquid
- HVAC UV Lights for AC
- Weather Seals
1. Smart AC Controller
Smart AC controllers equip any standard air conditioner, such as a mini-split, window, or portable air conditioning unit, with smart functionalities! All this at a very reasonable price ranging from $68 to $130 depending on the brand and feature set.
These controllers allow you to control your AC from literally anywhere using a smartphone. They come with a native application and easily connect with any air conditioner. Furthermore, these can also be connected with smart hubs such as Alexa or Google Home, allowing you to control your AC using your voice.
Smart AC controllers make air conditioning extremely easy. Not only are they convenient to use, but these smart controllers also let you set temperature triggers. The weekly scheduling feature helps you set AC schedules. More exciting features include geolocation, comfy mode, usage statistics, and air filter status, etc.
One extremely important feature is that they help save energy! Using their smart feature set your AC operates exactly when needed to provide utmost efficiency.
While smart AC controllers power up any conventional ductless unit with smart functionalities, they can also power up smart air conditioners with extra smartness.
2. Extra Pair of AC Air Filter
An AC filter is an important air conditioner accessory. Contaminants such as smoke, pollen, grease, and dust are captured as air passes through the air filter. As a result, clean, fresh air is released in the surroundings.
Since the filter is capturing minute particles every time your air conditioner is running, it can get dirty and clogged easily. For this reason, it often needs to be replaced for your AC to stay in excellent condition. There are multiple types of air filters available and you need to choose the one which fits perfectly into your AC model.
The choice of any one of these filters depends on your needs and use. It’s always advisable to opt for filters with a high MERV value to achieve the best air quality.
3. Fin Comb Set
Fins of your air conditioning system are located on the outdoor unit of the AC, near the compressor. Fins assist is moving the heat away and quickly cooling the air. If the fins are bent, your AC’s efficiency may greatly suffer.
Aluminum coil fins of air conditioning systems are delicate and easily get damaged by sticks, tree limbs, hail, or even high-pressure power washing. The bent fins restrict the airflow through the unit and make the system run harder. This eventually results in increased bills or even early failure of your air conditioning unit.
If your AC’s fins are bent, fin combs are here to the rescue! In fact, they should be a part of your routine DIY AC maintenance.
A fin comb is used to straighten the bent fins of an air conditioning unit. Fin combs come with single or multiple interchangeable heads that have different sizes. The comb is carefully drawn through the bent coils to straighten them and prevent damage. It is one of the most helpful air conditioner accessories and prolongs the life of your system.
4. Coil Cleaning Liquid
Air conditioners are composed of several complex parts and the condenser coil is one of them. The condenser coil moves heat out of the home and replaces it with cool air. If the condenser coil of your air conditioning system is not working well, then the performance of your air conditioning system would be greatly affected.
If your air conditioner coil is covered with dirt and debris, the heat gets trapped inside the unit. This leads to a scenario wherein an AC is working more than its standard capacity, reducing the efficiency of the system. As coils are an extremely important component of any AC, it is vital to clean them regularly for the long-term health of your system.
Coil cleaning liquid is used to keep your coils free from debris. You don’t always need a professional to clean your condenser coil and you can clean the condenser coil yourself using coil cleaning liquid. The coil cleaning liquid is a strong chemical and should be used carefully. The directions should be followed carefully to get the best results.
5. HVAC UV Lights for AC
UV lights have been helpful in killing germs, fungi, and bacteria. These are used to sterilize hospitals, water, and even air. These lights can be used to improve indoor air quality for HVAC systems as they can take care of any lurking germs and bacteria.
UV lights help to prevent the organic buildup on the surface and ducts of your air conditioning system. This eliminates the need to clean the ducts regularly and helps to improve the airflow of your HVAC system. Furthermore, the energy efficiency of your HVAC system is also improved.
The placement of the UV light is an important factor as it impacts its efficiency. The lights should be placed next to the evaporating coil on the downstream of the coil. UV lights should shine on the AC cooling coil and on the water drain path for it to be effective because these are the areas where mold grows.
6. Weather Seals
AC insulation panels have been in use for a very long time. They prevent any air from escaping through cracks or tiny openings which can cause your AC to run unnecessarily to maintain indoor temperatures.
Insulation panels can be installed around a window air conditioner to fill gaps between the AC and the sill or sash of window frames. Even with portable air conditioners you may face some exposed areas which can easily be covered. This shall keep all your cooled air indoors, right where it belongs!
Since weather seals keep the cold air in its place, they help save energy! As all your cooled air is unable to escape during summers, your AC does not have to work overtime. Moreover, you do not have to face the discomfort of warm air finding its way in through gaps. These seals or insulation panels can also help reduce annoying or vibrating sounds that may be coming out from your AC system.
Insulation panels is an easy to install air conditioner accessory. Moreover, they are easily washable and reusable. They can easily be found at home improvement stores at a very low cost.
Improve your Air Conditioning with the Right AC Accessories
Air conditioner accessories make your life easier and help you prolong the life of your air conditioner! They increase the efficiency of the HVAC systems and also help you save money by cutting down on energy consumption.
Invest in the right AC accessories to gain maximum efficiency from your AC unit!
To beat the heat this summer, shop some incredible smart AC controllers now.
Originally published at https://www.cielowigle.com on May 18, 2020.
