Getting your home ready for the summer season should involve practicing some AC maintenance. Preparing your unit early in the spring will ensure you’re ready to use it when the temperatures rise.
These steps will make sure the equipment is ready to service your living spaces:
Schedule an Annual Inspection and Tune-Up
The most important thing you can do for your air conditioner is schedule professional maintenance early in the season. Think about the last time you replaced your unit: Chances are you had to learn how to choose an AC system based on its energy usage and efficiency.
Over time, wear and tear causes a loss of efficiency. An annual tune-up reverses most of that damage and restores the system’s performance by cleaning and fine-tuning various parts of its indoor and outdoor units.
Keep Up With Air Filter Changes
During an AC tune-up, your technician will change the air filter for you. That new filter won’t stay clean forever, though; as treated air runs through the system, the fibers in the filter will catch allergens and other contaminants to provide cleaner indoor air.
Consistently changing your system’s filter will help you reduce the wear and tear on the equipment and maintain better air quality in the long run. It’s best to check and replace the filter every 30 days.
Clean Your Ducts and Registers
The condition of your ducts and registers will affect both your energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
Your HVAC technician can provide professional duct cleaning, which involves removing debris and cleaning unseen hazards, such as mold and bacteria, from the duct walls. Your technician will also look for duct damage and recommend repairs to eliminate air leaks.
You can keep your ducts cleaner and protect the efficiency of your air conditioner by dusting the registers on a regular basis. It doesn’t take long for dust, cobwebs, and debris to collect on the registers, but a light swipe with a clean rag is all it takes to address this problem.
Test Your Thermostat
Beyond the importance of a professional annual AC tune-up, there are still things you can do on your own. Throughout the spring and summer, a part of your air conditioner maintenance plan should involve testing your thermostat.
Adjust the settings to force a cooling cycle to begin. If the AC doesn’t start a cycle right away, replace the thermostat’s batteries and try again. If the problem persists, the unit might need calibration or replacement.
Clear Debris Away From the Compressor
Before scheduling air conditioning maintenance, check the outdoor compressor. You’ll simplify a technician’s work if you make sure the area around the compressor is clear. Move toys, lawn care equipment, and other items out of the way, and keep the grass and shrubbery trimmed short to ensure the air conditioner can operate at peak efficiency.
It’s Time for Your Annual Tune-Up
Daigle Plumbing, Heating & Cooling provides inspections and tune-ups to help you keep your cooling system in peak operating condition. In addition to our repair and new system installation services, we can recommend more steps to extend the efficient lifetime of your system. Contact us to schedule AC maintenance today!
