How Long To Wait Before Turning On A New Air Conditioner?

Did you recently buy a new air conditioner? Are you too excited to use it already? We know you are, but please, don't use it yet! We have asked a few HVAC professionals how long you should wait before turning it on.

You should wait for 30 minutes before turning your new air conditioner on so that the freon can settle into its appropriate place. Plus, if you start to operate the air conditioner too soon, it can potentially damage itself.

However, depending on their model or features, some parts must wait 24 hours to settle. So, to make sure, we suggest you read the manufacturer's manual since they usually indicate the set time before operating one.

Do you want to properly take care of your new air conditioner, but you don't know how to? Keep reading as we dig deeper for more air conditioner tips and information.

Air conditioner on interior living room, How Long To Wait before Turning On A New Air Conditioner?

Why Wait Before Turning On A New Air Conditioner?

Most new air conditioners need to sit for 30 minutes or several hours, but some models don't need to sit at all before use. It depends on how the unit was handled.

When you buy air conditioners, you tend to move the unit from here to there, tiling its topside and underside, which causes the fluids to move from their proper places.

Shopping purchases and delivery concepts of a air conditioner units

Also, we must condition the air conditioner's compressor to operate correctly. If it doesn't get enough oil, some of its parts will not work. Although it can manage to work without sufficient oil, any smaller parts are most prone to damage.

What Will Happen If You Don't Let The Air Conditioner Settle?

installed airconditioning units mounted on exterior wall

It is always a must to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the air conditioner usage. But mistakes are inevitable.

One of your family members might turn it on before you could even warn them, or you forgot to check to read the manual.

If that happens, nothing too serious will happen right away. The air conditioning unit can start up usually. Problems can only occur if you let the unit keep running if it has not yet settled.

The longer the air conditioner keeps operating, the more damage it will accumulate. It would be best to turn it off immediately to avoid further damage.

If the compressor is damaged, for example, it will be demanding to replace. More so, you may replace the entire unit if the compressor damage is significant, and that's a huge loss for having just run a new air conditioner!

How Long Can An Air Conditioner Run After Settling?

New white air conditioning compressor Installed

Once you finish letting the air conditioner settle itself for several minutes to a few hours (depending on the manufacturer's recommendation), you don't have to hold back anymore. Feel free to utilize your air conditioner as long as you want!

The unit will keep up just fine even with continuous usage. However, that might not be the same for your wallet.

Remember that continuously running an air conditioning unit can accumulate high energy bills. So, we suggest you use your air conditioner efficiently to save money.

Do You Need To Settle An Air Conditioner If It Hasn't Been Used For Months?

Are you also curious whether you should settle older air conditioning units if you haven't used them for several months? Well, there is a factor that we should consider to determine if an air conditioner needs a set time before operating.

Was it in proper storage during its time of inactivity? Your air conditioning unit may be placed on its side for a long time. And that means all the liquids are no longer in places where they should be.

So, you must position the air conditioning unit properly and let it settle the whole day before you start operating it again.

On the other hand, if you have placed it in its correct position, you might still want to allow it to settle for a few minutes to be sure it hasn't been jostled.

Pre-start AC Assessments

If you want your air conditioner to work at its full potential, you must perform these assessments first. Aside from setting the air conditioner, these are also these essential things you should consider checking:

Inspect The Air Conditioner's Wiring

Overloaded electrical circuit causing electrical short and fire.

The very first step is to begin inspecting the wiring of your air conditioner. Some pests and mites can still gnaw its wires even if the unit is in storage.

If you try to plug it in without checking the wires first, it could direct the air conditioner to an electrical fire.

Check The Filters Of The Air Conditioner

Dirty Filter Washing and cleaning maintenance is needed

Even when you put the air conditioning unit in proper storage, it can still accumulate dust and dirt over time. So, before you start to operate it, we suggest you double-check and clean its filters first.

Doing so will improve its efficiency and avoid future system damage. If you don't want to do the cleaning, you can call an HVAC professional to do the work for you.

Read more: "How To Clean A Portable Air Conditioner [Including Coils And Water Tank]."

Examine The Air Conditioner's Refrigerant And Drain Lines

You need to examine the drain lines to see if there is an existing or potential blockage.

There are some instances or mistakes when you forget to clean the drain lines of the air conditioner before storing it. Thus, we highly suggest you clean and clear out all the dirt and debris in the unit's drain lines to ensure that it will work properly.

The most significant factor in assessing the refrigerant line is locating any potential leaks. If there are, expect that it will hinder the performance and effectiveness of the air conditioning unit.

It would be best to address refrigerant leaks immediately because it is considered the most hazardous air conditioner issue.

Read: "How Often Should You Drain A Portable Air Conditioner?"

Inspect The Vents Of The Air Conditioner

The last assessment would be checking the air conditioner's vents. Clear out the vents so it can work at its finest. In addition, cleaning the air conditioner's vents is something you can perform on your own pretty quickly.

Should You Tilt Your Air Conditioner?

Mainly, tilting the air conditioner is unnecessary since most air conditioner manufacturers account for condensation when designing their products. You can install the AC level to not leave any water droplets inside your home.

Also, since tilting is believed to handle condensation but not lubrication, it cannot ensure the oil is in place. So, you should not consider tilting your AC to be the same as allowing it to settle.

Tips On How To Effectively Use Air Conditioners During Summer

You love summer, but you don't want the hot temperature inside your home? Read these helpful tips to use your air conditioners effectively!

1. Pair Your Air Conditioner With A Ceiling Fan

You can use your air conditioner together with your fan. You need to set your air conditioner to its lowest setting and turn on your ceiling fan. Doing such can help the cool air circulate across a wide area and maintain a comfortable indoor environment.

So, instead of choosing between the two appliances, you can opt to use them both at the same time to maximize comfort and efficiency.

2. Direct The Air Conditioner Vanes Upwards

If your air conditioning unit is in cooling mode, we suggest you keep the vanes in an upward direction. When cool air is in an upward direction, it circulates at its best.

3. Place Your Thermostat In An Appropriate Location

Placing your thermostat in a proper location matters the most as it reads and maintains a comfortable temperature indoors. We all know that it reads the temperature from its surroundings and communicates to the air conditioning system to make changes.

You don't want your thermostat to read inaccurate temperature for sure. So, it would be best to always place your thermostat in the center of your house and a bit farther from the kitchen, bathroom, or windows.

Read more: "How Far Should A Thermostat Be From Return Air Or Furnace?"

How Can You Save Money On Air Conditioning?

Adjusting the temperature can save you utility bills from spiking up

When you try to purchase an air conditioner, you should always look for its SEER rating. It shows the comparable amount of energy needed to produce the result.

So, when purchasing a new air conditioner, look for a unit with a high SEER rating.

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