Prepare Your Air Conditioner for Summer
Imagine your family is having the best Summer day, swimming in the pool, grilling out, or gardening. The sun is shining and the heat is roaring so you come inside for a glass of water and some cool air… but the air isn’t cold! If you’re like most, you’ve probably experienced this scenario: your air conditioner breaks on the hottest day of Summer. To keep this from happening, we’ve put together a list of the 5 most important things you can do to prepare your air conditioner for Summer heat.
1. Change Air Filters
Replacing your air filter is relatively easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prepare your air conditioner for Summer. Filters work to bring cleaner air into your home, by keeping dust, allergens, and other airborne particles out of your air conditioning system.
A dirty air filter causes your system to work harder, and can completely shut your system down if it becomes too dirty. If you’re going to clean your filter, follow the guidelines of your specific filter and keep up with cleaning it about once a month. Disposable filters can be changed out frequently, around every 3 months in Summer, depending on how frequently it fills. Keeping a clean filter can ensure your system is running at peak performance, which will also save you money each month!
2. Clean the System and Coils
Cleaning the area around your system from accumulating debris, grass, weeds, etc. can keep problems from arising and ensure your system runs effectively. Also be sure to check that the areas around your coils are clean and uncovered. Debris and other particles can enter your system here and have the potential to cause damage that can be costly to repair.
Indoor coils should also be cleaned regularly, as they have the potential for impacting the efficiency of your system. Coils can get worn out over time, and may need to be replaced if you continually have system issues.
3. Prepare Your Thermostat
Your thermostat setting can have a huge impact on your system’s efficiency. Investing in a programmable or Wifi thermostat can make a huge difference in the Summer. By setting the temperature higher while you’re away, your system isn’t constantly running at all hours of the day. With the correct setting, once you return home, your house will be cool again and you will have saved money throughout the day as well. That’s the best of both worlds and it’s a great way to prepare your air conditioner for Summer!
4. Avoid Opening Doors/Windows
Some summer days and nights are just the perfect temperature to feel the need for opening the doors and windows. However, this can be horrible for your system, especially in the Summer. With your system constantly rising and falling to adjust temperatures, it’s working harder than it needs to which could result in a number of issues.
Prepare your air conditioner for Summer and don’t have it making up for unnecessary temperature changes in your home. If anything, you’ll want to turn the system off for hours, and slowly adjust it manually when you decide to turn it back on. Keeping the doors and windows closed is most effective in keeping your system running smoothly and keeping your costs down.
5. Invest in a Maintenance Plan
All these different aspects of keeping your system healthy can be hard to keep up with all on your own. That’s why, at Garrison & Garrison, we offer preventive maintenance plans that include inspecting your filters and coils, checking your thermostat, and a number of other things to keep your system running efficiently and effectively for years to come.
Our maintenance plans allow us to prevent problems instead of fixing them.
Learn more
To learn more about how to prepare your air conditioner for Summer, please give us a call or view our maintenance programs page on our website.
Garrison & Garrison is a trusted American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning dealer in Huntsville, AL. Our professional staff can answer any questions you might have. We will also make recommendations as to which system will work better for your individual situation. You may call us at 256-859-8500 or email us at [email protected].
