There are few nightmares like a home without air conditioning during the hottest days of the summer. If you’re like most homeowners, you dread the idea of waiting for emergency service on a scorching hot day—and it’s worse when you consider your loved ones overheating inside.
Fortunately, there are a few things every homeowner can do to make sure their air conditioner functions as it should all summer long. Even if you have only basic knowledge of HVAC unit maintenance, a few simple steps can help you keep cool in the months to come. Here are the HVAC tips you need to know.
Shut Off the Power
Before you begin your HVAC maintenance, make sure to shut off the power. You can either do this at your HVAC system’s service panel, or you can use your circuit breaker instead.
Clean or Replace Your Filters
Your HVAC unit’s filters help keep your air free of dust, dander, and other airborne matter. However, if they become clogged, they can prevent your system from running as well as it should. You should inspect your filters once every one to three months, depending on the air quality in your home, replacing them as needed with a quality filter.
Clean Your Outdoor Unit
Your condenser unit, the part of your HVAC system that sits outside your home, will have a large fan in a metal box. Make sure to clear away any debris, dirt, and leaves that have accumulated on the sides, and make sure the fan is free of debris as well.
You’ll also want to clean off your condenser coils. To do this, remove the side and top panels and gently lift them off of your AC. Use a soft brush or vacuum to gently clean the coils.
Check Your Coolant Lines
Your coolant lines run from inside your home to the condenser outside, and they’ll be covered in insulation. Check to be sure that there are no areas where insulation is missing, and look around for any leaks. Refrigerant is a hazardous substance, so if you notice a leak, don’t try to fix it—call in a pro as soon as you can.
Turn Your Unit Back on and Test It
Once you’ve inspected and cleaned your unit, it’s time to put it to the test. Turn the system back on and set the thermostat to cool off your home to ensure it runs as it should.
Consider Calling an Expert
If you’re uncomfortable performing any of these maintenance steps, or if you prefer to make sure a professional does the job right, consider calling an expert like the team at Snyder’s Plumbing and Heating. With a trained technician, you can be confident that your heating and air conditioning will work as intended in the months to come. An expert may even be able to help you with basic, on-the-spot HVAC repair if needed.
The heat reduction of other devices
One should avoid using big electronic devices to keep the HVAC safe. Modern devices generate a huge amount of heat all over the day. Turning these devices for a long period adds extra heat within the house, so HVAC has to push its limits to keep the house cool. For example, one may use natural sunlight for dying their clothes instead of using washing machines or any dryer. The practice of reducing heat in the house not only saves HVAC devices but will also save lots of energy and money.
Check drain lines of HVAC system
It is necessary to check the drain lines to keep the HVAC devices out of danger. Sometimes the drain lines may get blocked which eliminates the moisture from the HVAC unit. It will produce a moldy smell and will damage other functions of the system. One should clean the drain lines before summer so that the system can run easily in summers without any problem. Blocked pipelines may also cause flooding that will ruin the floors and carpets.
Install Smart Thermostat
The most efficient way to improve the HVAC experience is to install the thermostat. A smart thermostat helps to control the home’s temperature that saves lots of energy. If someone is not satisfied with the temperature of the room, then in this situation smart thermostat will help a lot in giving comfort. One has to keep the thermostat away from any cold or hot sources since it will affect the room’s temperature. A smart thermostat allows HVAC to work lightly that secures the device from further damages.
Utilize CO detector machine
HVAC system releases harmful carbon monoxide gas. The colorless, odorless poisonous carbon monoxide gas leads to a lot of medical issues, that are not detectable. If the vent is not cleaned properly then carbon monoxide gas will stick in the vent leads to releasing the gas within the house. In this situation, the CO detector machine will detect the gas as soon as it is released. The gas may also be trapped by a plugged furnace that should be released outside.
Check Your HVAC Unit in Advance
These basic maintenance steps will require some elbow grease, but you’ll regret not making time for them if your HVAC unit shuts down in the middle of a hot summer day! Performing a few simple inspections and cleaning can keep your air conditioner running strong when you need it most, so be sure to tackle the tasks yourself or reach out to an expert for professional help.
Looking for more insights to help you take care of your home? Check out our other posts for additional helpful guides.