Spring has finally broken through, and while we may have a month or two of comfortable weather, hot months are right around the corner. Now is the perfect timing to get your outdoor air conditioner unit ready and prepared for those toasty days ahead of us (Psst—have a window A/C? here are some tips to maintain it).
Since your outdoor air conditioner has been dormant for the winter months, here are some (of the many) preliminary steps you can do to make sure your unit is in tiptop shape:
Clean, Clean, Clean! Since your unit has been sitting outside, taking on the elements like it’s no big deal, you need to remove grass, leaves, sticks, dust, and dirt around your unit as well as the interior of it—more specifically inside of the condenser. Cleaning the inside of your system’s condenser is actually an easy process. Make sure your unit is turned off, and take off the cover to gain access to the coils and the fan. Make sure to clean and remove any debris that you see in this area with a soft cloth or rag. There are also many cleaning products on the market to aid with cleaning the coils that you can find at your local home improvement store. In addition to removing debris, make sure your system is able to pull in the required air it needs to function. That means no bushes or shrubs should be right on top or around your unit.
Change That Dirty Filter This is one appliance maintenance tip you don’t want to miss, as this is absolutely crucial for your air conditioner’s optimal performance. Cleaning or changing (ideally) your A/C’s filter once a month will keep your system in-check and functioning. Dirty filters are caked in dust, dirt, and allergens, which means poor indoor, air quality. Not only does a filthy filter decrease your unit’s efficiency from a lack of airflow, it increases that electric bill of yours, too. Changing your filter is very much worthwhile investment in the long run and not to be overlooked to increase the longevity of your unit.
Does It Work? Turn on your thermostat and check out your unit. Are you getting cool, flowing air through your vents? As you check inside of your home, check the actual outdoor unit, too. Listen for abnormal sounds, delays in it coming on, how “cool” the air is, etc. It is super important to catch any potential problems to begin with as you don’t want to find yourself with a broken unit during 100 degree weather. If you do feel something is off, now is the time to give your local service company a good ole call.
Time for a Spring Tune-Up Don’t overlook getting a spring tune-up especially before the hot months are here. Call up your local service company and get your system recharged and checked. Now is the time to do it before you find yourself with a nonworking unit on the hottest day of the year. Save yourself the hassle from having to wait to get your unit serviced when it’s unbearable as HVAC techs are coming into their busier season, servicing units that people waited to turn on until the last minute. Check out the video below to see an example of what all goes into a spring tune-up:
Photo by: starmanseries
