Giant components of the U.S. and Canada are going through extreme warmth warnings this week. Throughout occasions of utmost warmth, a well-maintained, correctly functioning air conditioner might be your own home’s most vital equipment.

In case you are counting on a conveyable or room air conditioner to make the summer time warmth extra manageable, comply with these six use and upkeep suggestions to assist maximize your air conditioner’s cooling potential.

1. Don’t set your air conditioner too low: Your air conditioner doesn’t must be set at a excessive stage if no person goes to be within the room for some time. Set it at 75-80 levels when you’re going out. You’ll preserve the room cooler and minimize energy consumption.

2. Maintain the AC stage regular: Whereas oppressive warmth will make you wish to crank up the AC, it’s inefficient to attempt to cool the room suddenly by setting your AC to the utmost stage. Begin earlier within the day when the temperature exterior is decrease and permit the room to chill slowly.

3. Block out the solar: Give your AC unit some assist by drawing the shades or blinds to maintain the solar—and the warmth—out of the room.

4. Cleaner equals cooler: Verify your air filter twice a month and clear it when essential. Extra grime and particles can scale back the effectivity of your air conditioner. Filters might be cleaned with lukewarm water and delicate dish detergent. Accessible components might be rigorously cleaned with a vacuum and brush attachment.

5. Keep away from family duties that generate warmth: Make it simpler on your AC unit to do its job, and keep away from actions that warmth up the home, like cooking or laundry, throughout the hottest hours.

6 Let nature do among the work: Has the temperature exterior dropped? Reap the benefits of the break within the warmth, flip off your air conditioner and open the home windows. Use the unit fan and moveable followers to deliver the cooler exterior air inside.

In case your air conditioner nonetheless doesn’t appear to be maintaining the room cool, it’s attainable that your AC unit could also be too small for the dimensions of the room.

In case you are searching for a brand new air conditioner, study the variations between room and moveable air conditioners.