April 9th, 2014
Imagining hot summer weather can be difficult right now, but we promise that you will be using the air conditioner before you know it.
Preparing the air conditioner for a season’s worth of use is an important step in keeping a comfortable home. Ignoring preventative maintenance can be very costly, so get a jumpstart on your prep work before a failing unit jumps on your budget.
Clean the Condenser
A good first step is to wash your unit’s condenser, the part that facilitates the transfer of hot and cold air. The condenser needs to be clean and free from grass, leaves and other debris to work at high efficiency. Inspect the unit, and clean dirt from the evaporator fins with a brush. If no dirt is present, you can clean the unit with running water, a blower or a vacuum. If you need extra oomph, purchase a commercial cleaning product specifically for condensers and follow the instructions.
Replace the Filter
Replacing a unit’s filter is the single most important thing to do when preparing an air conditioner. In fact, the filter needs to be replaced every month. The filter cleans the air before the blower motor cycles your conditioned air throughout the house. You will usually find the filter on the bottom of the inside unit, and it should be fairly easy to replace.
Inspect the Ductwork
Visually inspect the ducts running through your basement or attic. Also, turn the fan to “ON” and feel for air that blows out of all vents evenly. If you do not feel any air from a vent or group of vents, there may be a hole or broken joint in the ductwork.
Call an HVAC-Certifie
This fall, make fireplace safety your number one concern. When temperatures dip we turn to our fireplaces to create heat as well as a cozy atmosphere for our home. But an increase in fireplace usage means that every homeowner should be aware of the hazards of unplanned fires and understand how to create a
