Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips For Smooth Spring

With spring getting closer, it’s time to prepare the AC to keep the home cool. Some of you might have already started using your air conditioning in Port St. Lucie, which makes maintenance and upgrades at this time necessary.

Your air conditioner has most likely been sitting idle during the winter months as you turn to the furnace. You might have shut the fuse and covered the outdoor unit for extra protection.

Despite this, your AC might have problems like dirt in the vent or leaves in the outdoor unit. Waiting until summer or even late spring might not be a good idea. The air conditioner might not work efficiently when you need it to.

Prepare your AC for spring and summer during the last month of winter with the following steps:

Clean Outdoor Unit

If you kept your unit uncovered during the cold months, it might have collected dust, debris, etc. This might affect the unit’s performance by blocking the coils or motors. You should inspect the condenser unit and clean it with a water hose. 

You might want to clean it even if you did cover the unit. Once finished, wait for the unit to dry before covering it to avoid trapping moisture.

Check Ducts

Your ducts might have collected dust while not in use. They might have holes, which might leak cool air. You should check the ducts for leakage and dirt. Clean them and cover the leaks to ensure proper airflow.

Get Servicing

An AC technician might catch AC issues that you might have missed. They can fix minor issues and prevent costly repairs down the line. They also tune-up the system so that it works during the warm months with maximum efficiency. 

You should schedule an AC servicing during the last weeks of winter or the first weeks of spring. This way, you’ll be ready to deal with the warmer summer months.

Switch On The Unit

Sometimes, the only way to tell if there’s an issue with your issue or not is to run it. Switch on your system to see if it’s cooling your home efficiently or not. If you notice issues like unusual noises or short cycling, then you might need an air conditioning repair in Stuart.

Make sure that your fuse or breaker is in the on position before testing the air conditioner. Many people forget about it and end up calling a technician when they don’t have to.

Replace/Clean Filters

Filters are supposed to protect the AC parts from dust and improve the quality of indoor air by trapping particles. If you didn’t replace or clean the filters before winter, then they might be clogged. Worn filters might allow dust particles to enter the air flowing throughout the house.

If your filters are reusable, then clean them. If they are disposable, then replace them. Make sure that your filters are clean every one to three months, depending on how soon they collect dust.

Check Insulation

Lack of insulation might cause cool air to leak out and warm air to seep in. You should check your home’s insulation to ensure this isn’t the case with the doors and windows.

Upgrade Thermostat

Your current one might be long overdue for a replacement anyway. You can control a smart thermostat with the help of your phone. It can automatically control temperature, fan speed, etc. based on your inputs.

Consider New AC

An air conditioner can last for fifteen years after which it may break down. If you’ve had to call a technician frequently to fix something or the other, then consider a new unit. Purchasing a new unit can be costly but it’s worth the convenience of not having to get frequent repairs.

Late winter and early spring is a good time as you don’t have to worry about sweating during the installation. When looking for new units, check their energy-ratings to find an energy-efficient unit. This will help you save on utility bills.