According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home is more than 54% of your electric bill. Checking your AC unit before the summer heat hits in your area can save you valuable electric costs. It is best to ensure your unit is operating efficiently and properly before it’s very hot and it doesn’t cool your home.
Check Your Thermostat
Turn the thermostat down below the ambient temperature in your home so that the compressor will engage. You should feel a strong flow of cold air coming from the registers in your home. If the air isn’t very cold, you may need to call a technician to add Freon to your unit so it will be cold enough.
Replace the AC Filter
When you haven’t used your AC system for several months, you should change the filter. The filter captures debris and dust and traps it so that it does not enter your AC system. Change the filter in an HVAC unit once a month for best performance. If you have a window unit, clean the filter at least once a month.
Thoroughly Cleaning your AC Unit
Turn your AC unit off and clean the exterior unit with a soft brush and a cloth to remove any debris, grass or dirt from it. Clear any leaves or twigs from the grills. Spray the AC coils with a garden hose to remove debris on both a window unit and an HVAC unit outdoors. Wipe the fins on an outside unit gently with a soft brush. Clean a window unit’s coils with a vacuum cleaner brush.
Condensation Lines Check
Central air or HVAC systems use a condensation line to remove moisture from the system. It travels through a condensation pipe near the outdoor unit. Locate this area outside and make sure there are no obstructions at the end of the pipe that would prevent drainage. In a window unit, clean any dirt, debris or leaves from the condensation drain holes in the bottom rear of the unit outside.
Following these steps before the summer heat is upon you can help your system to run efficiently and keep you from having to schedule a service call in the middle of a heat wave with your AC not working properly or at all.
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