Nearly all houses in the U.S. have some kind of air conditioning system — and that may be why the U.S. heating and cooling services industry is currently worth an incredible $71 billion.

And a huge part of being a homeowner is being sure that you understand all that you should about your home’s air conditioning system. This will allow you to more quickly detect when something goes wrong, preventing more costly damage that comes from ignoring the issue.

Are all your questions about your home air conditioning systems being answered? To find out, here are some of the most frequently-asked questions we receive about home air conditioning repair, along with their answers:

Q: How do home air conditioning systems work?

A: In the simplest terms possible, air conditioners work by transferring heat from inside your home to the outside. Air is drawn in via your home’s duct system and brought to the evaporator coil. A refrigerant will pass from the air conditioner’s condenser to the evaporator coil and absorbs the heat from the air. The newly-cooled air is then circulated throughout your house through its vents.

Q: Should I be concerned about indoor air quality?

A: To a degree. If you are regularly switching out your air filters once every three to six months as recommended, you will be able to keep your indoor air free of a number of allergens like dust and pollen, as well as harmful airborne germs. In addition, you should have your air conditioning system regularly examined and maintained by a professional to ensure no pollutants from your air conditioner are present in your home’s air.

Q: How can I make my air conditioning more efficient?

A: There are several ways you can reduce the amount of energy your home air conditioning systems consume. By using ceiling fans and other fans, you can increase air circulation and reduce the amount of work your air conditioner has to do. Also, be sure to never close more than 20% of the vent registers in your house — this will place an unnecessary strain on your air conditioner.

Do you have even more questions about home air conditioning services that weren’t answered here? Feel free to ask us anything or share your thoughts in the comments below. Helpful research also found here.