Before the scorching hot summer season arrives, you need to give your air conditioning system some love. The goal is to have it working as efficiently as possible. This way, you can limit any wasteful spending on excess energy bills.
Schedule Professional Service
One of the most crucial maintenance tasks you’ll have is to schedule professional service for your cooling system. You’ll want to do this in the early spring to ensure that your cooling system is running at peak efficiency to withstand the summer heat. Your HVAC technician will perform various tasks, such as checking electrical connections, cleaning coils, and listening for any problems. Having a licensed HVAC technician service your system will help drastically reduce your risk of experiencing an unexpected breakdown during the hot summer months.
Order New Air Filters
Your system’s air filter is imperative to removing unwanted airborne allergens, like dust, pollen, and pet dander, from your home. When your air filter nears the end of its lifespan, it will be much harder for your air conditioning system to pull air through it. This situation will lead to inefficient operation and ineffective cooling. You can avoid this problem by checking the state of your air filter every couple of weeks and replacing it if necessary. It’s a good idea to have spare air filters on hand so that you can replace the filter as soon as you discover it needs a new one.
Clean Your Outdoor Unit
Another must-do to ensure peak system performance during the baking hot summer months is cleaning up around your outdoor condenser unit. This unit is responsible for dispersing heat from your indoor air to the outdoors. When the sides of this unit become blocked, its ability to disperse this hot air is dramatically reduced. You’ll want to clean up the space around your outdoor unit, removing any shrubbery or leaves up against your unit. You should make it a habit to evaluate this area every few weeks and after every major storm.
Assess Your Vents
If you have a ducted air conditioning system, then each room of your home has a couple of vents. You’ll want to ensure that these vents aren’t obstructed by objects like furniture or plants. Any obstructions can reduce the ability of your cooling system to adequately cool that room. Just as you make it a habit to double-check your outdoor unit regularly, do the same with your vents. It’s very easy to accidentally place an item in front of your vent and forget about it.
Program Your Thermostat
If you don’t yet have a programmable or smart thermostat, it’s high time to consider upgrading. Both types of thermostats allow you to program temperature settings for different days and times. This way, you can optimize your energy usage throughout the baking hot summer months. It’s best to take some time before summer hits to switch your thermostat over to cooling mode and program your desired temperature settings.
Switch Your Fan Blade Direction
One of the best ways to help supplement your air conditioning system is with ceiling fans. By placing these in all the major rooms of your home, you can ensure that your family stays cool and comfortable. During the hot summer months, you’ll want to have your ceiling fans spinning in a counterclockwise direction. This forces air down onto your body and cools you off. The cooler you feel, the less you’ll run your air conditioning system and the more money you’ll save.
Check for Air Leaks
As your house settles into the land, it’s likely that new air gaps will open up in your exterior walls over time. These gaps can allow warm outside air to penetrate into your home, raising your home cooling costs. To prevent this issue, you’ll want to take the time now to check for any new air leaks. They’re most common around doors and windows. If you notice a change in temperature, use some weatherstripping or caulking to seal those air leaks up.
Reliable AC Service
G. R. Freeman Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. provides reliable cooling system service to the entire Evansville, IN region. We can also assist with all of your heating, indoor air quality, ductless mini split, zoning, ductwork, and commercial needs. Simply give our friendly staff a call today to schedule your next service appointment.
