With summer heating up, you’re probably leaning on your trusty air conditioner to keep your home a comfortable oasis. But like a good friend, your AC needs a little TLC to keep it running smoothly and you feeling cool.
To give you an idea, here are six easy-to-follow AC maintenance tips that’ll help you sail through the summer without a hitch.
Give Your Filters Some Love
Think of your AC’s filters as its lungs – they breathe in the air and keep out the dust, pollen, and other gunk. Over time, these filters can get clogged, making it tough for your AC to breathe properly.
If you neglect this, it could lead to your AC working extra hard, which isn’t good for your energy bill or your AC compressor – the heart of your cooling system. So, remember to clean or change your air filters every 1 to 2 months during the warmer months.
Clear Around Your Outdoor Unit
Your AC’s outdoor unit is like its superhero cape. It’s the one that releases all the heat your AC takes from inside your home.
To do its job right, it needs some space to breathe, too. So, take a peek and make sure there’s no debris, leaves, or anything else blocking it. And those bushes and plants? Give them some elbow room – they shouldn’t be crowding your unit, or it won’t work as efficiently.
Remember, you should hire an AC compressor repair service if things don’t seem right.
Show Some Love to the Evaporator Coils
The evaporator coils inside your AC are like sponges – they soak up the heat from your indoor air to cool your place down. But over time, they can get all dusty and dirty, making them less effective. Take a look and see if they need a cleaning. If they’re looking grubby, you might want to call in a pro to give them a proper cleaning.
Give the Condensate Drain a Thumbs Up
Remember, your AC isn’t just cooling the air – it’s also taking out moisture. All that extra water needs to go somewhere, and that’s where the condensate drain comes in.
If it gets clogged, you could have a mini-flood on your hands, and nobody wants that. Check the drain line and make sure it’s not blocked. If it is, you can pour a mix of water and bleach down the line to clear out any nasty stuff.
Show Your Ducts Some Attention
Your AC’s ductwork is like the highway for cool air to reach every nook and cranny of your home. But if there are holes or leaks along the way, that precious cool air could escape, leaving you less cool and more frustrated.
Take a walk around your home and check for any obvious leaks. If you spot any, seal them up with duct tape or mastic sealant. For bigger duct issues, it might be worth calling in a pro to give them a thorough check.
Get a Pro on Your Team
You’ve done some great work so far, but here’s where the experts come in. Just like you’d see a doctor for a checkup, your AC needs one too. Schedule a pro AC maintenance visit at least once a year.
These tech-savvy folks will give your AC a full once-over, checking refrigerant levels, electrical connections, and how the whole system is holding up. It’s like a spa day for your AC, making sure it’s ready to tackle the hottest days without breaking a sweat.