If you are like two-thirds of all American families, you rely on an air conditioner to cool your house during the long, hot days of summer, but without the proper maintenance, you could be looking at high energy bills or costly repairs. Beat the summer heat and reduce costs by following these tips for air conditioning maintenance.
Clean the Condenser
You should always clean your air conditioner at the start of the warm season. You’ll find your central air conditioner condenser unit outdoors. Clear away anything leaning against it like bikes or lawn chairs because they can damage the unit. If there are any overgrowing plants that could interfere with its functioning, remove those too. Always be careful to avoid damaging any of the attachments and turn off the power and remove the fan before deep cleaning the condenser. You’ll want to remove dirt and grime from the fan and fan grill, then clean the fins with a garden hose by spraying from the inside of the unit. Fins are fragile, so be careful when you’re cleaning and drying them. Once you’re finished, you can replace the fan grill and you’re ready to go.
Change Filters
Your HVAC filter needs consistent monthly maintenance to improve efficiency and avoid the need for air conditioning repair. Simply keeping up with air filter replacement can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent. This is true of both central and window units and many have reusable filters that you can wipe clean and replace. For those that take the kind you throw away after use, you can make things easier by buying enough for a year at a time and labeling them for each month. When they’re available and organized, you’re more likely to remember and it’s less of a chore.
Inspect the System
At several points throughout the summer, you should inspect your AC to keep things running smoothly and catch any problems before you need air conditioner repair. Turn on your system and listen for strange sounds, noticing how quickly the unit starts up. If it’s noticeably slow, is leaking or making odd noises, call in a pro to investigate. You should also check to be sure ductwork, condensing coils, and the thermostat are all free of dust and dirt.
Get Professional Maintenance
Whether you notice any problems or not, you should get your unit serviced once per year. By neglecting maintenance, you can lose up to 5 percent of your original efficiency. Have a HVAC professional do an inspection and tune-up to keep it working properly. You can save money by calling a professional early in the year when demands are lower. They’ll do routine maintenance and perform any air conditioner repair that needs to be completed.
Before summer begins, it pays to inspect and clean debris from your unit. By performing air conditioning maintenance and calling in a pro when needed for repair, you can save money and keep cool through the hottest months.
Contact Tri-CIty Heating & Air Conditioning for an AC tune-up! We service Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley and most of the northern I-25 corridor!
Fort Collins: 970.493.0126
Loveland: 970.669.1772
