How To Properly Prepare Your AC For The Summer
This post may contain affiliate links which might earn us money. Please read my Disclosure and Privacy policies hereWhile the modern air conditioner was created back in 1902, it has come a long way and is now found in just about every new home being built today. They are a great way to keep your home cool in the hot winter months, and some can even improve the air quality in your home.
Without them, living anywhere in the southern states would be unbearable for most of the year. These are genuinely great inventions when it comes to keeping us comfortable and happy, no matter how hot it may be wherever you live.
But before summer hits, it’s a good idea to prepare your air conditioner and make sure it works. If you don’t, you could be in for some scorching days with no relief in sight.
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With that in mind, this article will go over some ways to properly prepare your air conditioner for the summer season ahead.
Have a Professional Come Take a Look
Before the summer heat hits, it is a good idea to reach out to a professional to come to take a look at your air conditioner.
Getting an A/C tune-up from a pro will not only make sure it is working well, but they will also be able to ensure no issues or problems are developing behind the scenes. In addition, they will inspect everything and make sure it is clean, in the right place, and working well.
This should be done generally once a year, and while it will cost you, it is much more affordable than having something go wrong and having to replace the whole unit as a result. But, of course, be sure to choose the right company or individual, too.
They should be experienced, have a strong track record, and stand by their work. So while you should still consider cost, some companies are worth paying a little more for.
The last thing you want is to be without A/C on a very hot day, so it is best to call them and set up an appointment early to ensure your A/C is good to go once hot weather arrives.
Many get quite busy right as summer arrives, so call or email ahead to ensure you get booked in.
Change Out the Filter
As for things you can do on your own is to change out your air conditioning/furnace filter.
Over time, your filter will get full of dust, dirt, debris, and other things and need to be cleaned or changed out. These can accumulate particles quite quickly in some cases, so you need to be careful.
If you continue to use your A/C or furnace with a dirty filter, it can become very inefficient and could even reduce air quality in some cases and even damage your HVAC system. As for how often to change your filter, that will generally depend on several factors.
For example, it depends on the size of your home, whether you have children or pets, and even the air filter you use.
In most cases, if you use a pleated filter of some kind, you should change it out every couple of months. If you use a fiberglass one, it will often need to be changed out monthly. Always have extra filters on hand in case something terrible happens and you need to change it sooner, of course.
Check Your Ducts
Your ductwork is also a crucial part of your air conditioning system. They are what will transport the air throughout your home, and without them, you would struggle to reach adequate levels of coolness in each room.
As a result, be sure to check out your ducts if you have access to them. You should make sure air travels through them well, without any issues. Watch out for leaks and gaps in which air is escaping too, and that can be incredibly wasteful.
Sealing leaks is often as easy as adding some tape around the gaps, but if they are full of different spots where the air is leaking, it might be time to replace or upgrade your ducts. Of course, if your basement is finished or the ducts are behind walls, you may need to have experts come out to examine your ducts if you feel like something is off. It is also a good idea to get your ducts cleaned every couple of years to ensure everything works smoothly and your air quality remains great.
Make Sure Your Thermostat Works
Your thermostat serves as the hub for your heating and cooling, and it is a good idea to make sure that it works before winter hits, too. Test it a couple of times to make sure it starts when you want it to, stops when you tell it to, and communicates the right temperature.
Some thermostats may experience issues in their connection to your A/C and won’t work as they are supposed to. Some may not allow you to turn the A/C on at all, and others may never reach the temperature you have set out for them.
If you are still dealing with an older and outdated thermostat, consider upgrading to one that is programmable and/or smart. These have multiple temperature settings and essentially allow you to automate your heating or cooling efforts, and ensure your home is always the temperature you like.
Forgetting to turn on or off the air or furnace is a common problem, and one of these more modern thermostats ensure this is no longer an issue for you.
Take a Look at the Outdoor Unit
It is also a good idea to take a look at your outdoor A/C unit once summer is here. Make sure it isn’t damaged, check the lines and piping to make sure it’s okay, and ensure it doesn’t make any strange noises or have any weird smells.
Of course, if you notice anything off, or simply want to make sure all is good, consider bringing in a professional. Although if you had a professional come in and test your air conditioner, they should have also taken a look at your outdoor unit.
Also, it is possible to inspect the unit yourself and make any changes, only take a job like that on if you have experienced and are comfortable working with these units.
Ensure All Vents and Unblocked
Last but not least, you should make sure that your vents are unblocked and opened. This will ensure the cool air can adequately enter each room. Things like furniture, piles of documents, clothing, boxes, and anything else could render these vents essentially useless.
Not only will blocking these vents lead to less cool air entering your rooms, but it will also cost you money. This is because the A/C will need to run much longer to reach the programmed temperature if you have things blocking the vents, so be sure to keep them clear.
We hope that this article and the tips inside it have been able to ensure that your air conditioner is ready for summer.
