Summer is almost here! Now is the perfect time to prepare your air conditioning unit to take on the summer heat. Following the simple steps below will help ensure your AC unit is running at maximum efficiency in the upcoming months.
Before we provide you with the vital steps in ensuring your comfort this summer, we want to stress the importance of safety. We recommend that you turn off your circuit breaker and the power to your condenser (located at the service panel) before working on any part of your air conditioning system.
Replace filters
Regularly changing your air filter will maximize the efficiency of your airflow and help keep your energy bill low. When your air filter gets a build-up of dust, dander, and debris, it can restrict your airflow, causing your AC unit to be less efficient and unable to produce high-quality airflow.
The HVAC professionals at Brackett Heating and Air recommend that you change your MERV 11 or MERV 16 filter once a year. However, it’s important to note that if you have someone in your home who smokes or has pets, you will need to change your filter every six months.
To learn more about changing your air filter, check out our blog, “What You Should Know Before Replacing Your Air Filter.”
Keep Your Outdoor Unit Clean
Over the long winter months, your outdoor unit generates a build-up of leaves, dirt, and other debris. The accumulation of this debris can cause damage to the unit if it makes its way inside.
Clean off the leaves, twigs, and other debris to help promote proper air circulation and to prevent any future issues. Here are a few maintenance tips you can use when clearing away this area.
- Make sure the grass around the unit is cut short.
- Trim any surrounding bushes.
- Avoid plating large plants or bushes near the unit.
- Trim back any tree branches that hang over the unit.
- Call Brackett Heating and Air to help handle the maintenance of your outdoor unit.
By performing regular landscaping in the area around your outdoor unit, you can help prevent the aggregation of potentially damaging debris throughout the summer.
Check the Refrigerant Lines
Checking your air conditioner’s coolant line is another way that you can help prepare your AC unit for summer. Call us to perform a 36-point check on your entire air conditioning unit, which includes this essential summer preparation step.
Test Your Thermostat
There are some cases where homeowners believe they need an air conditioner repair when, in all actuality, their thermostat is the issue. Follow the steps below to see if your thermostat is working properly.
- Inspect the batteries to make sure they are not low.
- Make sure your thermostat is in the “ON” position.
- Make sure the “COOL” or “A/C” setting is enabled.
- Set the thermostat to a temperature lower than what is currently on the reader.
Following these steps should activate the air conditioner, and you should hear your unit turn on. If this does not happen, give Brackett Heating and Air a call to dive deeper into the issue.
While the tips above might be time-consuming, they are highly important to ensure the efficiency of your AC unit. The last thing you want on the first hot day of summer is the find that your central air conditioning unit isn’t working properly. This can be an unfortunate reality for homeowners who do not do some regular maintenance before the summer heat sets in.
Don’t wait any longer; take care of your air conditioning unit today! If you have any questions or discover an issue with your AC unit, call Brackett Heating and Air.
