When the California summer season sets in, you’ll surely know about it. The temperatures get very hot and can leave you running indoors to sit in your nice cool air conditioner. To ensure that your cooling system is ready to take on the upcoming summer heat, there are many different things that you’ll want to do.
Maintenance Service
One of the first things you want to do is schedule professional maintenance service. It’s best to do this in the early spring months so that you have enough time to repair any issues your system may have. Maintenance service includes lubricating moving parts, recharging your refrigerator level, testing electrical connections and calibrating your thermostat.
Besides early problem detection, an annual maintenance service is a great way to help ensure you maintain the cooling system’s warranty and extend its lifespan. Plus, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have significantly reduced your risk of experiencing a breakdown and that you’re not wasting any of your hard-earned money on excessive energy bills.
Joining an annual maintenance plan comes with additional benefits. You get a professional to look at your system every year and keep you apprised of its remaining lifespan. Maintenance plans often include discounts on repairs that happen within a year of your tune-up.
Landscape Near the Outdoor Unit
Another significant step is to open space around your outdoor condenser unit. You want to remove any cover that you had on the unit over the winter season to protect it from the weather. Be sure to clear any debris away from the sides of the unit, as it needs around three feet of open space to function optimally. Be mindful of removing any low-hanging branches or shrubbery impeding the airflow around the unit.
It’s also a good idea to inspect the fins outside your unit. These are the small grates responsible for dispersing heat to the outside air. If these fins are bent out of place, they can restrict their ability to release that heat and cause your system to operate inefficiently. You can use a screwdriver or a specialized fin comb sized to your particular AC unit to help straighten any bent fins.
Replace Your Air Filter
Now is the perfect time to remove the old air filter from your system and replace it with a new one. Having a spare filter ready to replace your filter throughout the summer can be beneficial whenever necessary. Check it regularly by pulling it out and holding it to a light. If you can’t see through the filter any longer, then it’s an indication that you need to throw it out and replace it with a new one.
Check Your Air Vents
If you have a central air conditioning system or a heat pump that relies on ductwork to deliver cold air throughout your home, you’ll have various supply and return vents in each room. It’s vitally imperative that all of these vents remain open for your cooling system to operate at its peak efficiency level.
Before the summer season sets in, take a moment to walk around your home’s rooms and check the air vents to ensure they’re completely open. If there are any obstructions around the vent, be sure to move them so they don’t obstruct the free flow of air in or out of the vent.
Program Your Thermostat
One of the best ways to help prevent your cooling system from overworking throughout the summer season is to have a programmable thermostat. Ideally, you’ll want to invest in a smart thermostat that you can control from the convenience of your smartphone. This will allow you to alter the temperature settings and program in different settings depending on the day of the week and the time of the day. You can quickly turn up the temperature when you’re not home to prevent your system from running and cooling your home for no reason.
Switch Ceiling Fan Directions
If you use ceiling fans to supplement your air conditioning system throughout the summer months, you must ensure they are spinning in the right direction. During the summertime, your fan needs to be spinning forward or counterclockwise. Be sure to test each fan to make sure it’s blowing air down onto you.
Seal Up Air Leaks
One of the biggest efficiency killers of your air conditioning system, which will cause excessive running and a higher risk of breakdown, is air leaks in your home. When air leaks develop around door and window frames on your exterior walls, hot air from outside can penetrate inside your home. This raises your interior temperature naturally and causes your cooling system to kick on to combat it.
It can be highly advantageous to check your home’s exterior walls for any air leaks. You can do this by simply running your hand around door and window frames to see if you notice a temperature difference. Anywhere you notice this difference, you want to seal it off with caulking or weather stripping. For more significant air leaks, you may even want to consider using spray foam material.
Consider Duct Cleaning and Sealing Services
Another thing that you may want to consider doing to prepare your cooling system for the summer season is to focus on your ductwork. As the years go by, debris pulled into your ducting can start to pile up and restrict airflow. This can cause your cooling system to work harder to move air successfully through your ductwork. Additionally, expansion and contraction of your air ducts can allow gaps to open up, and your conditioned air can seep into the wall and floor cavities instead of going the whole way to your rooms. With a smaller percentage of your conditioned air making it to your rooms, your cooling system has to run longer to get your home to your desired temperature.
Consider investing in professional ducting services to clean and seal up air leaks. This process starts by using specialized tools to remove debris stuck inside your air ducts. Then, a specialized substance is used to seal up any leaks in your ductwork. This will ensure that all of your conditioned air from your indoor air handler unit makes it to the various rooms throughout your home.
Consider Upgrading
If you noticed that your cooling bills seemed excessive last year and your system had a breakdown or two, you might consider upgrading to a new one. Most central air conditioning systems have a lifespan of around 15 to 20 years. As you reach the older years of your system’s life, it will become less efficient and cost you more money to run and repair. By upgrading to a new system, you can cash in on energy savings and enjoy a more comfortable home environment.
Professional AC Maintenance Service
General Air Conditioning & Plumbing offers professional AC maintenance service for the Thousand Palms, CA area. We can also help with all your air conditioning, heating, and indoor air quality service needs. Call us today to book your next service consultation.
