The warm weather is finally here: Summer is (dare we say) just around the corner. With the outdoor temperature increasing, you’ll want to make sure your air conditioning unit is in top form. But before you turn on your unit, we’ve compiled a checklist of 5 tips to help ensure your indoor temperatures are nice and cool, all season long.
- Book a Precision Tune-up: The benefits of an A/C tune-up from a qualified technician are endless. Not only do regular tune-ups extend the life of your A/C, but they will actually help lower your energy cost. Get your HVAC tech to double check Freon coolant levels, to ensure there are no leaks or issues.
- Prepare Outdoor Unit: Remove the cover and hose down your A/C. Pay special attention to cleaning the condenser coil: make sure outdoor debris including weeds, grass clippings, twigs, and branches are cleared away. Turn `ON’ the outdoor switch also ensure the breakers are ‘ON’. The humidifier bypass should be closed.
- Clear Away Buildup: In- home A/C units should be cleaned to remove buildup, created by dust and dirt, to maximize air flow. Wet shop-vacs can be used to remove sludge that can accumulate in drainage pipes. For a thorough job, call a professional duct cleaner to give you vents a full dusting.
- Open Vents: Furniture can obstruct airflow from entering a room: No more than 20% of return and supply registers should be closed. Turn on the A/C at your thermostat and let it run for an hour to ensure it’s properly cooling all the rooms in your home.
- Check Air Filters: Filters should be checked and unclean filters should be replaced to improve indoor air quality and achieve optimum airflow. As a rule of thumb, filters should be examined every 30-60 days, minimum.
