When the sweat beads form on your forehead and you click your thermostat from “heat” to “cold,” there’s nothing more discouraging than feeling warm air coming from the vents.
Don’t despair just because summer has arrived before you could test out your air conditioning.
You can help yourself out by doing a few upkeep tasks on your cooling system.
Cooling systems require regular maintenance. Keep reading to learn the basic things you can do to keep both heating and cooling systems running smoothly.
Change Your Filters
Your HVAC system pulls outside air in. It pumps the air through an air filter which captures the dust and allergens, allowing the system to pump out clean, cool air.
When you have a clogged filter, your HVAC system has to work twice as hard to pull air into the house. Plus, the HVAC system can overheat, causing significant and sometimes irreparable damage.
So before you do anything else, check your filters. Make sure they’re not clogged with massive dust bunnies and debris.
Most HVAC systems have fairly uncomplicated filter systems. You should be able to change a filter on your own by just sliding the dirty filter out and replacing it with a clean filter.
You can find new air filters at just about any hardware store, and they will cost you much less than a new HVAC system.
The cost of the air filter will vary depending on the quality of the filter you want. Some will last one to three months while others are rated for up to twelve months of usage.
The filters will vary as well on the types of allergens and the quantity of dust they filter out.
Look For Leaks
Once you’ve replaced your filter, inspect your ductwork for leaks. Look for signs of air movement around the ductwork or obvious breaches in the design.
If you see a hole or cracks in the ductwork, your HVAC system is not working as efficiently as it could.
Ductwork can last up to 25 years, but after 15 years, it will begin to show significant wear and tear. Faulty ductwork means air is escaping before it gets to your vents and cools your home. So examine your ductwork carefully.
Test Your Thermostat
Sometimes the problem isn’t your HVAC unit at all. You may have a faulty thermostat. You can test it by following these steps:
- Make sure the thermostat is in the “on” position.
- Make sure the thermostat is set to “cool” or AC.
- If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure override programs aren’t preventing your AC from responding.
- If you have a programmable thermostat, replace the batteries.
- Recruit a friend to stand next to your furnace as you test the thermostat and then turn the thermostat to “heat.” Raise the temperature on the thermostat, and have your friend let you know if they hear the furnace make a sound to indicate it received the thermostat signal to start. If the furnace does not respond immediately, you need to replace the thermostat.
If you know the thermostat has gone bad, you can attempt to replace it yourself or call in a professional.
A skilled HVAC technician can install the thermostat quickly and ensure you have a properly running HVAC system.
Go Outside
As much as you might want to stay out of the heat, your maintenance tasks will take you outside. Check your outside unit.
As obvious as this solution might seem, make sure that your unit does not still have a winter cover on it. Some homeowners will put a cover over their unit to protect it from the harsh winter weather. If you’ve done this, take the cover off for the summer.
Then, check the area for debris. Make sure all of the winter and fall debris has not clogged any areas near your unit. Clear out the dead grass, leaves, and sticks that might be crowding your fan.
Look for any damage to the unit as well. You may have had an unwanted guest like a rodent chewing on wires. This could cause problems with the efficiency of your cooling system.
As you clear out debris, pay special attention to the air conditioning coils. Accumulated debris can work its way into your system and damage it if it crowds the coils.
Even if your unit is indoors, clean the coils and condenser regularly. A clean condenser and coils will keep your unit running more efficiently.
Not only will it save you money with your energy bill, but it will also lengthen the life of your HVAC unit.
Service Your Cooling Systems
Proper maintenance also means hiring the best HVAC maintenance guys in the business. You can only do so much on your own. Hire a reputable HVAC professional to inspect your unit and ductwork annually.
A great HVAC repair service will do more than just repair HVAC systems. They will keep them running efficiently and have specials on annual maintenance plans.
If you have an old HVAC unit, consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient unit. You will save hundreds of dollars on your energy bill when you have an Energy-star rated unit.
Plus, many utilities offer rebates as incentives when you purchase energy-efficient appliances. Thus while purchasing a new air conditioning unit looks like an expensive endeavor, you need to consider the cost-saving future as well as the sizable rebates involved.
Stay Calm, Stay Cool
Efficient cooling systems are the saving grace of hot, humid summers. Without them, you will hate summer. With them, you can enjoy the rays of vitamin D knowing you have a cool place to sleep.
If your HVAC system has begun to show signs of failure, contact us. Our trained technicians can spot HVAC problems a mile away and fix them quickly and thoroughly.
Don’t suffer needlessly in the summer heat. Check your HVAC system and then give us a call for a final run-through.
