Tips to Get Your Air Conditioning Ready for Summer

There’s nothing nicer on a stifling hot summer day than to flick the switch on your air conditioning and to be the recipient of all that lovely, cold air. What’s not so great is when you turn on your unit only to find that it’s not working.

When your air conditioner sits doing nothing throughout the autumn, winter, and spring months, it collects debris and leaves. Because of this, it’s good practice to carry out some maintenance before the balmy days of summer arrive. Otherwise, you could be getting all hot and bothered waiting for a busy HVAC professional to make a service call, along with potentially costly repairs.

If you don’t have home air conditioning or can’t afford it, remember that a whole house fan can keep air conditioning costs down by drawing in cool outside air. If you do have a home A/C unit, it’s good practice to schedule a pre-season tune-up by a professional. For a minimal investment, you can prolong the life of your unit by years.

There’s never been a better time than now to get your A/C system ready and working for summer. Here’s how!

Change or Clean the Filter Monthly
Depending on your unit, some have filters that are cleaned with water, and others have disposable filters. No matter the filter type, cleaning this area of your unit is imperative to its smooth running. When your air filters are dirty, your unit has to work harder to pump air into your home.

Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean
Your outdoor condenser should always be cleared of any debris. Grass clippings, debris and plant growth can damage your unit by clogging it and making it run less efficiently. Firstly, turn off the thermostat. Next, taking a clean brush or cloth, gently clean the coil from the fins. Be careful not to use force or you’ll damage the fins.

Keeping your outdoor unit clean boosts its efficiency and helps you get longevity from your equipment.

Clean Indoor Ductwork
This is one job for a professional. Ductwork is hidden within your walls and ceilings and shouldn’t be touched yourself. Of course, it’s fine to remove registers and to inspect and wipe down visible parts of the ducts. You can also check these parts of the ducts for water damage or wear.

Air ducts can accumulate moisture due to condensation. When this happens, the system can be damaged and fungus and mold can grow. If you see any water damage, call out a professional immediately.

Check and Maintain the Fan Belts on Your Outdoor Unit
Another job to carry out regularly is inspecting the fan belts, adjusting or replacing them if needed. You can source these parts at your local hardware store. Just ensure you buy the correct part for your particular unit. Working fan belts make sure your air conditioning is running at maximum efficiency, in turn, lowering your energy bills.

Through following the tips above, you can be sure to keep you air conditioning unit in tip top condition for many summers to come. And, if you install a whole house fan, there’s a good chance you’ll rarely have to run your air conditioner, and save money to boot.