How to Make Sure Your House is Ready for AC Season?

Air conditioning maintenance

Summer is characterized by extremely high temperatures, making it important for you to have the AC on at all times to cool off the temperatures. Since your AC will probably be on at all times during this season, it is important to ensure the AC is ready for this season. To ensure this is the case, you have to clean it, do some maintenance, and call in experts to check if it is operating optimally. This article gives things you have to pay attention to ensure your house is ready for AC season.

  • Clean the System

The first thing you need to do is clean the system, as you do not want to turn on the AC to help cool off the air only for it to make indoor living conditions unbearable for you and your family due to the dust and debris coming from inside. If you are not an HVAC expert, there are some things that you might not be able to clean, especially the inside.

However, you can still clean outside components such as the ground close to your AC to get rid of debris and twigs, which may find their way into the systems. You can even trim overgrown vegetation or cut the grass around the system to ensure it is clear of debris.

  • Change Air Filters

Another thing you have to do is change the air filters. This is something that you can do on your own. You are supposed to change the filters after every 30-60 days for the best possible performance. If you do not change the filters on a regular basis, dust, germs, and allergens will accumulate, causing a huge problem to the overall health of your family. It can also cause damage to the AC.

  • Check Alarm Batteries

You have to check batteries in your smoke, CO detector, and thermostat to ensure everything is working optimally. This will help prevent an instance where you are calling your HVAC expert only to realize that it is just the thermostat. A smart thermostat can also work greatly for you because you can adjust temperatures from any place, giving you an opportunity to save a lot on utility bills.

  • Block Sun Exposure

Blocking sun exposure by hanging window shades or blackout drapes can help prevent the sun from heating up your house. The window coverings also work great because they help keep your floors and furniture from fading due to too much sun exposure.

  • Ensure the AC is Working Optimally

Before the AC season comes, you might want to check your system to ensure it is working properly. Turn it on and check for any smoke, sparks, or abnormal sounds coming from the system. If you notice any weird sound or smoke, you may need to repair or replace it, if the problem is severe.

If you have the system cleaned properly, air filters replaced, and you have checked that it is working, you have to leave it running for a couple of minutes. This will be an evaluation of proper function. After the system has ran for about 20 minutes, you should be in a position to tell if it is cooling the air. You have to leave the HVAC on for a long time to get an understanding whether it should be analyzed by an expert.

  • Assess Energy Needs

Having an operational HVAC is important but getting an energy efficient one is even better. You need to evaluate your house and see the amount of energy your AC is doing to consume to provide proper cooling. After doing some analysis, you can determine the cost of running your unit. If it is extremely high, it might be a good time to upgrade to a more energy efficient system.

  • Get a New HVAC System

If after analyzing your HVAC unit, you realize that it is not operating properly, it might be a good time to replace the system. While doing this, it is good to note that current HVAC units are optimal and energy efficient. Therefore, consider getting those instead of a similar unit to the one you had.

Summer is a time when temperatures are extremely high, requiring you to have your AC on to cool off the air. In readiness for such times, you have to analyze your AC and ensure it is operating well. If not, be sure to replace it. However, as you may have realized, doing these tasks takes a lot of effort and requires expertise. Therefore, consider hiring an expert to help you out.