The beautiful Texas springtime has arrived, and you know what that means. It won’t be long before the summer heat arrives! It’s time to make sure you’re ready for it. What should be at the top of your springtime to-do list? Cleaning and preparing your air conditioner, of course! Here are the steps you should take.
1: Clean Up Around the Outdoor Unit
A lot can happen in the months since you last used your air conditioner. How is the area around your outdoor unit looking? You might need to prune shrubs, trim grass, rake away leaf litter or lawn clippings or remove other debris. Make sure there’s plenty of space around the unit for good air circulation.
This is also the perfect time to wash down the fins and coils. Accumulated dust and dirt can really reduce the effectiveness of your air conditioner. You can simply rinse it with a hose, but make sure you don’t use a high-pressure nozzle. You don’t want to cause any damage to delicate components.
2: Change the Air Filter
Air conditioners have filters to trap fibers and particles that would otherwise end up in the inner workings of the system and cause friction in the moving parts and other problems. But if the filter doesn’t get changed often enough, it causes other issues.
The system will work extra hard to pull air through the clogged filter, using unnecessary electricity. And low airflow makes it so the cool air created by the system can’t be distributed evenly through your ducts and vents. It can even cause the blower fan motor to overheat, leading to very short, ineffective cycles or making the system shut down altogether.
3: Schedule Professional Maintenance
Having your air conditioner serviced by a qualified technician once a year improves the system’s efficiency by about 5%. It also cuts down on the likelihood that you’ll need a repair this summer by about 85%. It can improve the air conditioner’s performance, extend its lifespan, and help keep it under warranty. Make this appointment early, so if you do end up needing more extensive AC repair in Shallowater, TX, there will be plenty of time before the heat hits.
4: Prepare for Professional Maintenance
Once you’ve got your service appointment scheduled, what can you do to streamline the process? Following steps one and two on this list will definitely help. Also make sure you clear the way to the indoor unit, and make space around it for the technician to work. Before they arrive, shut your pets in another room so they won’t get underfoot or escape out the front door.
It’s also very helpful to have any records on hand for previous maintenance or repairs on the system. It can give your technician a better idea of what they should be extra alert for. And because this is the perfect time to learn more about your air conditioner and your HVAC system in general, make note of any questions you’d like to ask while your technician is there.
JD’s Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning serves the Lubbock area. Contact us for all your AC maintenance and repair needs.