Your AC gets a much-needed break during the winter months, but sitting dormant for so long can cause problems. The last thing you want is to figure out your AC doesn’t work on the first scorching hot day. Use these tips to prepare your HVAC system for summer so you can keep your home comfortable.
Air Filters
To ensure the air passing through your ducts is safe for inhalation, HVAC systems use an air filter in the return duct. You have three choices for furnace air filters: washable, low-quality disposable and high-quality disposable. With a low-quality disposable filter, you should change it every month or two. Better disposable air filters may last as long as three months. Washable filters have far longer lifespans, but you need to wash them according to the manufacturer’s instructions—usually once a month. For better indoor air quality, choose a filter with a high MERV rating or MPR, both of which can effectively remove smaller particles.
If you haven’t cleaned or changed your air filter in a while, replace it before summer to keep things running smoothly.
Condenser Coils
A condenser coil works in conjunction with an evaporation coil inside your condenser unit to release heat in the surrounding area. As leaves, dirt, and other debris build up in the condenser unit and impedes airflow, its efficiency worsens. Ever so often—especially at the beginning of every cooling season—you should clean your condenser coil. After removing the side and top panels on your condenser unit, use a coil brush or a gentle vacuum brush to remove any debris. Be careful not to bend the coil’s fins, or else you’ll need a fin comb to straighten them back out. To keep dirt and debris build-up to a minimum, you should put something over the top to keep it protected during the fall and winter.
If you aren’t comfortable performing maintenance yourself, call the AC pros at Allbritten.
Refrigerant Levels
Keeping your house perfectly cool a 90-degree day is no easy task. To create cool air on a hot day, your AC needs a helping hand, and that’s where refrigerant comes in. As refrigerant is forced through your air conditioning, it goes through a series of changes that ultimately creates the air that cools your home.
But since refrigerant is being consumed to keep cool air circulating through your house, it can run low from time to time. You should check your refrigerant levels each time you’re performing routine HVAC maintenance. Too little refrigerant isn’t the only problem, though; if you find you have too much refrigerant in your AC, it may not be running at maximum efficiency.
Thermostat and Other Controls
Setting your thermostat when you’re sleeping, at work, or otherwise away from home can be a great way to save money, but if something’s not functioning correctly, it can cause some major problems. Experts say that you can save a substantial amount with minor changes to your thermostat throughout the day, whether it’s summer or winter. But when you’re dealing with changes of a couple degrees, it’s important to know your thermostat will kick the air conditioning on maintaining the exact temperature you set it at. When you turn your furnace up or down enough, you should hear a clicking noise which indicates the furnace has been triggered. Have somebody stand near the furnace while you adjust the thermostat until it clicks; if the furnace makes no sound, there’s an issue with the thermostat. If it makes an audible noise but doesn’t kick on, the issue may be with the furnace.
Proper maintenance is a vital part of improving your AC’s efficiency and lifespan, and it should be performed before each heating and cooling season. If you aren’t comfortable performing maintenance by yourself, you can always call a qualified professional to do the job for you.