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If you’re like most families, you rely on your home air conditioning system to create a comfortable indoor environment. It’s never a good idea to simply turn on your AC unit and hope that it will run for the entire summer without a problem. Rather, it requires necessary maintenance steps in order for the system to run at its optimal function throughout the scorching hot summer months. Below are the necessary summertime preparation tips that you’ll need to ensure that your unit remains energy efficient this summer season.
Clean Your Drain and Condensation Lines
As your air conditioner works, it pulls moisture out of the air. This moisture travels through the condensation lines and down into the drain pan. The water then flows down the drain and out of your system. It’s vital that you clean out the condensation lines and the drain itself. Over time, these areas can get clogged with loose debris. When the condensation lines and the drain become clogged, it can cause a backup of water into your air conditioning system.
Change the Air Filter
Your AC unit has a filter that helps to collect loose particles, debris, dust, and other unhealthy allergens from the air in your home. As the filter does its job, it will start to be clogged with all of this debris. If you pull your air conditioning filter out and are unable to see through it, it’s an indication that it’s time to change it. You need to change your air filter every three months to ensure that it doesn’t get completely clogged. If your AC filter gets clogged, it can cause moisture to back up into your system and end up freezing your evaporator coils.
Open Your Vents
In every room of your house, you’ll find vents. These vents are connected to the ductwork that runs throughout all of the walls of your home. The ductwork delivers the cold air to each room. Now is a perfect time to walk around each room of your residence and ensure that all of these vents are open. In addition, you want to make sure that you don’t have any furniture or other objects blocking the vents.
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to accidentally push the couch in front of one of these vents while they’re moving items around. When these vents are blocked, it can make it difficult for your air conditioning system to cool the room in an adequate manner.
Clean Your Outside Unit
On a nice spring day, it’s a good idea to go outside and clean the outside compressor unit of your air conditioning system. Start by disconnecting all the power to the unit at the breaker box inside of your house. Proceed to remove the AC unit cover, and place it at the side of the machine so that you have access to all of the parts. Take the time to vacuum out any loose debris that has ended up inside of your AC unit and around it. Some of the most common debris include leaves and twigs.
Once you clean out all of the components of your outdoor unit, it’s time to address the fins. These are metal fixtures that run from the bottom to the top of your unit. These fins need to be completely straight in order for your system to work at its optimal level. If you notice any of these fins are bent, you need to straighten them back out. Once you get your fins straightened back out, it’s time to put the cover back on your outdoor unit.
Program Your Thermostat
As you’re doing your AC summertime preparation tips above, it’s a good idea to take the time to also reprogram your thermostat. Most systems these days come with a programmable thermostat already installed. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, it only takes a few minutes to switch out an old thermostat for a new programmable one that offers many more energy-efficient options.
You should think about what your weekly schedule is and program the thermostat to increase to a higher temperature when you’re not at home. By increasing the temperature when you’re not inside your house, you can help to save on your energy bills. Just be sure to program your thermostat to reduce the temperature to a comfortable level before your family arrives back home.
Trusted AC Service
If you need help prepping your AC unit for the hot summer months ahead, then it’s time to call Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in East Peoria. Our experienced technicians can provide assistance for all of your home cooling and heating needs, including repairs, installation, and maintenance. We can even assist in improving your indoor air quality so that your house is comfortable for everyone.
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