It’s 40 degrees in the shade and your air conditioner claps out. The mercury rises and rises and there’s nothing you can do except call out for emergency air conditioning repair.

That’s a worst case scenario – and here at Fixzit, we’re here to help you avoid it. Just by taking a few of these simple steps, you can prolong the life of your AC unit and avoid a sweaty problem:

1. Keep it clean

Debris such as leaves and sticks from overhanging trees can block the filters and vents – so it pays to do an annual clean on the unit.

2. Service it regularly

Air conditioners are built tough, but they can break or perform sluggishly after a while. So have the AC unit serviced by a qualified technician to keep it running smoothly. This service may even be covered by your AC unit’s warranty. Fixzit can connect you to a quality tradesperson quickly and easily.

3. Consider an upgrade

Your old air conditioning unit may have soldiered through countless summers, but maybe it’s time for an upgrade? A new, more efficient AC unit will perform much better and you’ll avoid the risk of your old reliable suddenly becoming a liability.

4. Use it strategically

Decide on a heat management plan, whereby if the thermometer rises above a certain level, you switch the AC on for a set period of time, reducing wear and tear.

5. Consider alternatives

Switching on fans, shutting the blinds, opening a door for the afternoon sea breeze – these are all ways of cooling your home without using the AC, saving wear and tear.

6. 26°C is perfect

If you set the thermostat to 26°C, you can stay cool, save money on power and give the AC a much easier temperature to maintain. This will give your AC unit a longer life and reduce the risk of a breakdown.

7. Choose a cool room

Many AC units have the ability to cool a specific area in your home, so take advantage of this flexibility. Instead of cooling the whole house, just chill the room you’re in – reducing the strain on the unit.

8. Keep the AC unit cool

A roof-mounted air conditioner can get super hot while it’s working to cool your home. So if you can protect it with a shade sail, plants or a cover, then it will perform much better.

9. Take care during winter

We don’t think of our AC units during winter, but cold weather, storms and rain can cause damage to them. So it pays to inspect the unit after a bout of heavy weather.

10. Consider the position

AC units need adequate airflow to work properly. If your unit has been installed in a tight, cramped space, then it may have to work harder, increasing the risk of a break down. Make sure it’s free and easy.