As summer approaches, you need to make sure that your home is in tip-top condition. There are several appliances you are going to come to rely on in the warmer weather, such as your AC unit. It is incredibly important that this piece of equipment works to the best of its abilities as the months turn warmer. Here’s what you need to do to get this ready for summer.
Give It a Quick Assessment
First up, you need to give it a once-over to establish its general condition. Depending on where you live, you may not have touched it for several months. As a result, it is likely to be in not the best condition compared to how you usually like it to look.
Even if you are not HVAC-savvy when it comes to fixing things up, you should be able to tell from a general once-over what condition it is in. If it looks battered and old, it is going to need either some repairs or potentially even replacing fully. This first little assessment of fins, electrical components, belts, and other essential parts of the system could be key in ensuring that your AC is actually able to stand up to the job without breaking halfway through the season.
Clear It Out
Through fall and winter, dirt and debris can become lodged in an AC unit if it is not properly cared for belts, and electrics. Many areas of your AC can get clogged with dirt and grime that can impair them, so when you’re checking that your AC is workable, you should also clean it out. This is such a critical part of the maintenance and it can’t be a step that is skipped. If you feel like this is going to be beyond your skillset, make sure you enlist the help of an expert instead.
The very first thing you need to do is cut the power to the AC unit itself. Make sure that power is off to avoid any issues you may encounter while trying to clean it. You then need to clean the inside. Make sure the evaporator coils are clean, and then empty and clean the drain and drain pan. If the drain is clogged, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to try to shift the blockage.
You should also clean the outside of the unit once the power is off. There should be enough slack in the wires for you to do this without needing to disconnect the wires. You can then clean out any debris from the bottom of the unit itself. If you use a solution to clean your condenser coils, you need to make sure that it does not get on any of the inner workings or on you as it can cause burns and damage the unit itself. Finally, straighten the unit’s fans to help maintain its efficiency. Make sure you are using the right set of tools for the job when you do so. As you close up your AC unit, make sure you check that it is still level.
Check the Air Filters
Air filters are one of the most crucial parts of the AC unit and it is something that you will check fairly regularly, even if you only clean the full unit a few times a year. Air filters are such an easy change to make but they can make a real difference to the inside of your home. If you feel like things are a bit stuffy, or it seems like the air is not circulating as well as it should, that is a key indicator that your air filter needs to be changed.
Air filters come in many sizes – while you’ll likely have a common size like a 16x25x1, make sure to check the size of your current filter before stocking up. A good-quality air filter should last you at least two or three months, but you may want to change it more often depending on your household. As a result, you need to make sure that you have enough filters to last you throughout the season.
Maintain Your AC Regularly
We rely on our AC systems more than we might realize. If you think that yours needs some work as we move into the summer months, you should think about updating it as soon as you can. This is just one part of your house that should be refreshed in time for summer, but things can get unpleasant if it does break down.
Make sure you are giving yourself enough time to properly assess it and any repairs it might need. Better to get them sorted now before you have to rely on that AC keeping you cool after all! If your home needs its AC in the warmer months, you should check on it today to make sure it is ready!
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