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Tips for Preparing Your AC Unit for the Summer Months
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Keep Your Home Comfortable and Energy Costs Down When the Temperature Goes Up

When the summer months roll around, more is expected of your air conditioner units. Not only are they in use more frequently, but they have to work harder in order to produce the temperatures necessary to keep your home comfortable. A typical air conditioner works by capturing heat from the warm air in the house, sending it to the outdoor condensing unit, and rejecting the heat-energy to the hot air on the outside.

In Springfield, the hottest months are July and August, where temperatures hit as high as 89°F. On these hot summer days, there is more heat coming into your home that the unit needs to remove, and the hot air outdoors makes it more difficult for the unit to reject the heat. Both heat and humidity play a role in how well your unit performs on a hot summer day.

When considering the best ways to care for your unit in the summer months, another factor to consider is the airflow. Your air conditioner will not work unless there is proper circulation flowing throughout the system. If there is not, it can cause your AC unit to work harder to provide the level of comfort you want to achieve in your home.

For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the location of your unit. If your unit is located near plants and shrubbery or underneath a decked, your airflow might be blocked. This will make it more difficult for your unit to function properly, which will negatively impact the comfort levels in your home and drive up your energy bills. Other ways you can prepare your unit for the hot summer months include:

  • Changing the filters

Experts recommend that you replace your air filters about every 90 days for those without allergies. If you have allergies, the recommended amount is around every 45 days. Changing your filter regularly will prevent dust, mold spores, soot, bacteria, and allergens from circulating in your home. Air filters also cause the blower fan in the HVAC system to work harder in order to push air, which will not help your home stay at the right temperature.

  • Cleaning the condensation lines

It is also recommended to clean your drain line every 30 days. Otherwise, it is possible for the AC system’s evaporator to freeze and cause damage to the unit. Furthermore, the condensate drain pan can overflow and fill with microbes. This can back up your water and lead to unsightly damage to your drywall, ceiling, or floor.

  • Installing a programmable thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat in a home is a great way to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, which will help it work properly and save you money on energy bills. A thermostat will allow you to set the HVAC in your home at a daily schedule. You can turn off the HVAC at times when you do not need it and adjust the temperatures to your liking. This will save your unit from putting in more work than necessary, and save you from paying for your system when you are not using it. A programmable thermostat can make the HVAC in your home more effective and it can extend your system’s lifespan.

  • Checking the ductwork for leaks

Your ductwork is what distributes airflow from your HVAC system to the rest of your home. If your ductwork is leaking, it can cause a whole host of issues, such as high utility bills. If you have noticed a sudden increase in your utility bill without using more energy, your ductwork might be to blame. If the air duct is leaking, your system can distribute air into the wrong locations, which will use more energy. Another sign that your ductwork might be leaking is an increase in dust throughout your home. It is only natural for homes to have some areas that are dustier than others, but what happens when the ductwork is leaking is that it pulls up the dust from these areas and distributes them throughout the whole home.

Another telltale sign of leaks in the ductwork is uneven temperature distribution throughout the home. If one room is cold while another one on the same floor is hot, there might be a leak in your ductwork. To find out if this is the case, you can look for major tears in the ductwork, turn your HVAC system on full blast to locate the more obvious leaks, check the duct joints, and look for duct tape throughout the system. You can also contact our skilled team and we will be happy to assist in checking for leaks.

  • Cleaning the coils on the outside of the unit

You can find your condenser coils positioned directly behind the condenser fins, which is the thin metal wiring that covers your outdoor AC unit. It is important to keep the AC coils clean so the heat can exchange efficiently through the coils without being blocked by dirt and debris. Dirty evaporator coils will not be able to remove as much heat and humidity from your home, so it will take longer to get it to your ideal temperature.

If you would like to learn more about AC maintenance and how to prepare your unit for the summer, call All Klear Hours at (417) 228-8252 or contact us online.