How to Keep Your AC Running Smoothly During the Summer Heat
As summer temperatures rise, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that your air conditioning services run smoothly and efficiently. Keeping your air conditioner in top shape during the hottest months of the year can help reduce energy costs and prevent unexpected breakdowns. Here are some tips for ensuring your system can handle any heatwave.
1. Change Your Filter Regularly
One of the most important things you can do to keep your AC running smoothly is to change the filter regularly. Filters should be replaced every one to three months, depending on how frequently you use your unit. Dirty filters restrict airflow and cause strain on motors, leading to higher energy bills and even system failure.
2. Clean the Coils
The evaporator and condenser coils are essential in regulating temperatures within a home’s HVAC system. To ensure optimal performance, these coils should be cleaned with a soft brush or cloth once per year. This process removes dirt build-up so that air circulates freely without obstruction, resulting in improved cooling power and lower energy bills.
3. Keep Outdoor Units Clear
Outdoor units need space around them for proper ventilation — obstructions such as shrubs, gardening equipment, or toys can block airflow through the system and significantly reduce efficiency. It is also important to regularly check outdoor units for dirt or debris buildup; this can interfere with fan blades if left unchecked for too long, causing permanent damage over time.
4. Check Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant levels must remain within the specified range for an air conditioner to function properly; too little refrigerant will result in inadequate cooling, while too much can lead to more serious damage down the line if not dealt with quickly enough by a professional technician from a reliable air conditioning service company. Checking levels every few weeks during the peak season will give you peace of mind knowing they’re always where they need to be.
5. Schedule professional maintenance
Even after following all of these steps, it’s still recommended that homeowners schedule regular professional maintenance with an experienced technician from a reputable air conditioning service company once a year – preferably before summer hits full stride – to detect any underlying problems that may have previously been missed or overlooked. Such professionals have access to tools such as infrared cameras, which allow them to easily detect hidden problems that would otherwise go unnoticed until greater damage occurs due to their lack of presence.
6 . Insulate ducts and window seals
Insulating ductwork and window seals help prevent the loss of cold air generated by your air conditioner while keeping hot outside air out – reducing strain on the unit’s compressor while helping to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors more effectively – ensuring that you get full value out of the money spent on your electricity bill each month without having to worry about extra costs due to inefficient functioning of the air conditioner if neglected for a long period.
7 . Upgrade old systems
If your current HVAC system is more than 10 years old, it may benefit from replacement rather than repair – newer models are designed to improve efficiency while using less power than older ones, meaning savings on electricity bills, especially in high-temperature areas prone to scorching summers. The same advice applies if the existing model is already showing signs of frequent breakdowns/repairs (every few months) due to age-related problems, as these costs would, over time far exceed the cost of buying a new unit.
8 . Turn off unused equipment
It’s best practice to turn off all unnecessary appliances when not needed as doing so saves a lot of energy which might otherwise be lost trying to cool rooms where no person is present instead redirecting saved energy towards other areas occupied people enjoying the comforts provided by AC unit installed at property saving electricity bill big time when done correctly.
With these simple tips, you’ll be able to keep your AC running smoothly throughout the summer months – no matter how hot it gets!