Spring Air Conditioning Tips

As warmer weather is coming a couple HVAC changes as you are turning off the furnace and start to open the windows. First off is the preparation for the day where you have to turn on your air conditioner. It is going to happen eventually, and if the summer is anywhere near as hot as previous years, that day may possibly come a lot sooner than expected. It is an intelligent decision to get maintenance for you air conditioner out of the way first, and to avoid terrible break downs in the hottest part of the summer heat. Here are a couple things to look for.

Clear Surrounding Area

Many things can change around your yard in the months you don’t use your AC unit. Do a quick inspection of the surrounding area of your air conditioner and clear the area of any shrubs, plants, weeds, bushes or any debris that has gathered there during the winter. Clearing the area around the air conditioner helps make sure that the AC unit can get enough air to cool the house and keep debris from entering the AC units and causing major problems.

Test AC Early

Sometime in between March and April, turn the AC unit on and let it run for at the minimum an hour. This will ensure it is working properly and if maintenance or repairs is in order. This way there is plenty of time to get any repairs needed before the blistering heat sets in. It is best to be able to get the air conditioner fixed on your own time instead of getting into an emergency situation in terribly hot heat.

Check Air Filter

Some filters need to be changed yearly and some filters are permanent and require to be cleaned regularly Which ever case it may be, dirty filters can be a major problem. Energy usage will increase with dirty filters, and can cause much greater problems for you and your family, like a frozen evaporator, and many other other issues. Make sure you maintain your filter earlier in the year and clear the filter of any debris that may cause issues.

Inspect Freon

Check Freon levels in your air conditioner. Low Freon may be a sign of a leakage, which could potentially be a major problem. Low Freon levels will decrease the lifespan of an air conditioner compressor, which is the main component of all AC units. If your levels are low, schedule a Freon recharge to prevent overheating.

Test Thermostat

This one may seem like common sense, but be sure to check that the air conditioner thermostat is set on the “cooling” mode. Make sure the temperature is below room temperature to be determined the air conditioner turns on automatically.

AC basic Maintenance

It is a good idea to call a trusted HVAC professional to do some basic air conditioner maintenance before the heat sets in. A trained service technician is able to check all of the above as well as doing some more technical maintenance and troubleshooting, if it’s need.