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As the weather starts to warm back up in Montana, you don’t want to forget to prep your air conditioner. It’s necessary to make this transition from heating to cooling in the early spring before you need to rely on your AC unit. Below, we’re going to go over some of the necessary steps that you’ll want to do to prepare your air conditioner appropriately.
Program Your Thermostat
A great place to start your spring preparation is with your thermostat. Change its settings from heating to cooling. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, now is a good time to go ahead and program in your desired temperature settings. This will help to ensure that you can enjoy optimal energy efficiency throughout the entire cooling season.
Uncover Your Condenser Unit
If you have a cover over your outdoor condenser unit to protect it from the harsh winter weather, now is the perfect time to take it off. Be sure to remove any debris that’s around your unit and trim back any shrubbery that could restrict its airflow. Furthermore, inspect all the fins on the outside of the unit to see if any are bent. If they are, use a flathead screwdriver to bend them back into their horizontal position for optimal functionality.
Install New Air Filter
Before allergy season hits, you should replace the air filter in your HVAC unit. If you suffer from allergies or another respiratory condition, you may want to consider purchasing a filter that has a MERV rating of 10 or 13. This will work to remove more airborne allergens than standard filters to reduce your allergy symptoms while at home. Be sure to check your owner’s manual to ensure that the chosen rating is compatible with your unit. The higher the rating, the tighter the weave, and the harder it is to push air through the filter.
Schedule Maintenance Service
You’ll want to schedule professional maintenance service early in the spring season to ensure your AC is properly prepared for the hot summer weather. Professional maintenance is typically necessary to retain the warranty coverage on your unit, and it gives a technician an opportunity to identify any potential problems your appliance may have. This tune-up will greatly reduce your risk of experiencing a breakdown and will ensure your air conditioner is operating as efficiently as possible to keep your energy bills in check.
Check Air Vents
Look at all the air vents in your home, and verify that they’re fully open. Wiping off the surface of the vent will help to maximize airflow. Be sure to test-run your air conditioning system to make sure it’s working correctly, and walk by every supply vent to confirm that enough cold air is coming out of it.
Evaluate Your Attic
During this spring AC maintenance, you’ll want to climb up into your attic and conduct a thorough evaluation. You want to confirm that all the air vents are completely open so that your attic remains the same temperature as the air outside. Additionally, evaluate the state of your insulation. If there are any missing sections or if it has fallen below the floor joists, be sure to add more insulation.
Seal Air Leaks
Air conditioning systems lose efficiency when there are air leaks in the exterior walls of your home. As you transition into the spring, assess all the exterior walls of your home for any air gaps that may have opened up over the winter season. These are going to be most prominent around the frames for your doors and windows. You can simply run your hand around the frame and take note of any temperature changes. Seal up areas where there’s a difference in temperature with weather stripping or caulking.
Prep Blinds and Curtains
Direct sunlight can increase the temperature inside your home tremendously throughout the summertime. To keep your energy bills in check, it’s best to have curtains or blinds installed on all of your windows that receive direct sunlight. This will let you close off windows during the daytime hours to prevent sunlight from raising room temperatures, causing your AC unit to run excessively.
Expert AC Maintenance Service
Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC offers expert air conditioner maintenance service to the Billings, MT community. Our helpful AC technicians can also assist with all your air conditioning installation, replacement, and repair needs. Call our office today to schedule a cooling service appointment.
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