As we start to transition out of the cold winter season, many of us are getting our homes prepped for the upcoming spring and summer. One particular aspect you want to pay attention to is your cooling system. We’re going to go over some of the most common things you’ll want to do to properly prepare your AC for its busy time of year.
Filter Replacement
A great place to start in preparing your cooling system for the spring and summer seasons is to put in a new air filter. This filter will help to ensure that your AC can operate at its peak efficiency level without any sort of restriction in its airflow. If you or another family member suffers from severe allergies or asthma, you may want to consider purchasing a filter with a high MERV in order to remove more airborne contaminants.
Professional Tune-Up
There’s no doubt that the absolute best way to prepare your air conditioning system for summer is to get professional AC maintenance service in the spring. This includes things like calibrating your thermostat, cleaning your coils, testing electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, recharging refrigerant levels, and so much more. This service is necessary to maintain the warranty coverage on your system and extend its overall life span. Annual professional maintenance is also great for detecting any problems with your system so that you can have them repaired before you need to be using the equipment every day.
Duct Cleaning
It’s common for your ductwork to get a buildup of debris inside of it as it operates throughout the year. Removing that debris can help eliminate restrictions to the airflow and increase the quality of air inside your home. You may also want to consider coupling duct cleaning with duct sealing service to help close off any air leaks in your ducting that could cause unwanted loss of cold air during operation.
Clean Up Around the Condenser Unit
The outdoor condenser unit for your air conditioning system is a very important component that’s responsible for dispersing heat from inside your home to the outdoors. If the unit is covered in debris, it’s going to struggle to release that heat and will ultimately degrade the overall operating efficiency of your air conditioning system. Do yourself a favor and clean up around your unit by removing any debris that’s against it. Be sure to trim back any low-hanging branches or shrubbery so that they don’t crowd the unit’s natural airflow.
Program the Thermostat
Spring is the perfect time to go ahead and program your thermostat for the upcoming summer season. The trick is to optimize your energy usage so that you can reduce your overall cooling bills. Aim for setting the temperature higher during times when you know you’re going to be away, such as when you’re at work. This will cause your cooling system to run less often. You may even want to consider investing in a smart thermostat so that you can control it from your smartphone for those times when your schedule changes.
Check Air Vents
Your air conditioning system can only be as efficient as your air vents allow it to be. If there is an obstruction blocking a vent or it’s completely closed off, cold air won’t make it to that room. It’s a good idea to walk around every room in your home and check the air vents to see if they’re completely open. Additionally, you’ll want to check for obstructions and move them out of the way so that each vent has a good 3 feet of open space around it for optimal airflow.
Seal Off Air Leaks
Throughout the year, expansion and contraction can wreak havoc on the exterior walls of your home. The most common places that will develop air leaks are around your window and door frames. It can be helpful to run your hand around these locations and take note of any temperature differences that you feel. Once you identify these leaks, it’s necessary to seal them off to help ensure that the hot air outside doesn’t penetrate into your home during the summer. You can use different products to seal them, like spray foam, weather stripping, or even basic caulking.
Trustworthy HVAC Maintenance Service
Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC offers reliable HVAC maintenance service for the Billings, MT community. We can also assist with all your cooling services needs as well as heating repair, replacement, and installation. Simply call our office today to book your next appointment with one of our skilled technicians.
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