Most homeowners turn to their air conditioning systems to stay comfortable as the weather outside starts to heat up. It’s best to prep your air conditioner before using it to ensure it’s operating efficiently. Here is what that entails.
Replace Air Filter
The air filter inside your AC unit is responsible for filtering out unwanted airborne contaminants to enhance your home’s air quality and protect your device’s internal components. If you or another household member has allergies or another respiratory condition, you may want to consider purchasing a filter with a higher MERV rating. This will filter out more airborne allergens, though you should make sure it is compatible with your HVAC system first.
Depending on your household, filter changes are necessary every two to three months. It’s best to pull out the filter once a month and hold it up to a light. If you can see through the filter, it’s good for another month. If you can’t, the filter is too dirty and needs to be replaced. Keep a spare filter to be ready so you can replace it whenever necessary. You want to avoid running your system with a dirty filter much throughout the summer, as it will significantly decrease the efficiency of your AC and could even lead to a breakdown.
Schedule a Professional Tune-Up
One thing you never want to forget to do is schedule professional maintenance service. This service involves one of our technicians coming out to inspect, clean, and test all the internal components of your appliance, like its coils. This will ensure your device operates as efficiently as possible so you’re not wasting any of your hard-earned money on excessive energy bills.
Routine maintenance is typically necessary to sustain the warranty coverage on your appliance and goes a long way in helping extend its overall longevity. A tune-up is perfect for catching any problems your system may have while they’re small and fairly inexpensive. It will dramatically reduce your chances of experiencing a breakdown during the hot summer.
Clean Up Your Condenser Unit
Your outdoor condenser unit needs adequate space to function optimally. Assess the area around it and trim any foliage or low-hanging branches to prevent airflow restriction. Remove any debris, like leaves, that may be around the unit. Be sure to assess the metal fins outside the condenser. If fins are bent out of their horizontal position, use a fin comb or flathead screwdriver to bend them back into the original position.
Check Your Air Vents
Your air conditioner can only be effective when all the air vents in your home are completely open. Take a moment to check every vent and open up any closed ones. When you test your system for the first time, hold your hand up to the vent to ensure all your supply vents provide the room with cold air. Additionally, check the space around the vent to ensure there’s a good two feet of open space for optimal airflow.
Get Rid of Air Leaks
One of the biggest efficiency killers of your AC system is air leaks on your exterior walls. Heat can penetrate through gaps and areas with reduced insulation. This will increase the temperature inside your home, causing your AC unit to run overtime. To detect areas with reduced insulation, run your hand around all the door frames, window frames, outlets, and light switches on your exterior walls. Take note of any temperature changes. Depending on the type of air leak you have and its size, you can use caulking, weather stripping, foam insert pads, or even spray foam to seal it up.
Check Attic Vents and Insulation
An ill-prepared attic can significantly increase your summertime cooling costs. To prevent this problem, you’ll want to assess both your insulation and attic vents. All the vents in your attic should be completely open to allow maximum airflow so that the temperature inside your attic is the same as outside.
Resist the urge to close off your vents to keep the heat out. The temperature in your attic will skyrocket during hot summer days and penetrate your home, leading you to turn down the thermostat. Be sure to assess your insulation and fill in any missing locations. Your insulation acts as a necessary barrier between the temperature in your attic and the temperature in your home, so it needs to be in good working order to prevent any unwanted temperature swings.
Program Your Thermostat
During your springtime AC preparation, don’t forget to program your thermostat. If you don’t yet have a programmable thermostat, consider upgrading to one, as it can provide you with a lot of energy savings throughout the summertime. It can be helpful to optimize your energy usage by setting the temperature up when you know you’re going to be at work so your air conditioner isn’t running when you don’t need it to. Be sure to switch your thermostat from heating to cooling and verify that your fan is set to auto and not on.
Duct Cleaning and Sealing
If you have a ducted air conditioner, the condition of your ductwork will play a big role in your unit’s overall operating efficiency. If your ducting is packed full of debris like dust and pet hair, it will restrict the airflow of your system and cause it to operate inefficiently. Additionally, any gaps that develop in your ductwork can allow cold air to enter wall and floor crevices instead of making it to the rooms of your home. This further decreases the operating efficiency of your AC unit.
Most HVAC professionals recommend cleaning your ductwork every three to five years. However, if you suffer from allergies or another similar condition, you may find getting more frequent cleaning services beneficial. In addition, routine duct sealing every 8 to 10 years can help seal up any gaps to increase your appliance’s operating efficiency. Keep in mind that this is a specialized job that is not part of a tune-up.
Ceiling Fans and Windows
Two other factors you don’t want to overlook to keep your energy bills in check throughout the summer are your ceiling fans and windows. Ceiling fans should be in all the major rooms of your home and set to spin counterclockwise. This will force a nice, gentle breeze onto you to cool down your body, so you can set the thermostat at a higher temperature while remaining comfortable.
Direct sunlight can be a major problem, as it increases the temperature in your rooms and causes your cooling system to constantly kick on to combat the rise in temperature. Aim to use curtains or blinds to block out direct sunlight throughout the daytime hours so you can better control the temperature in your home.
Reliable AC Maintenance Service
Loves Air provides reliable AC maintenance service for the Modesto, CA community. We can also help with all your AC installation, replacement, and repair needs. Ask us about our Loves Family Plan! Simply call our friendly office today to book your next service appointment with one of our knowledgeable HVAC technicians.
