Summer is on its way out, and the weather is beginning to cool, but be sure not to neglect your A/C maintenance routine. Now is a good time to get ahead on caring for your air conditioning system that worked so hard to keep you cool and comfortable all summer. Here are a few tips to consider.
- Clean your A/C – When you know that you won’t be using your air conditioner till next spring, turn off the power at the main breaker box and give the outside unit a good rinse. Dirt and debris tends to build up on the unit, and this can impede the crucial transfer of heat from the inside of your home to the outside. To be safe, leave the power off for a couple of days while the unit dries off.
- Keep the filter changed – Inspect your A/C filter once a month and change it when it looks dirty. This is one of the easiest ways to keep the system running efficiently. A dirty filter will impede the flow of air through the system and make the unit work harder than it needs to, wasting energy. A clean filter also ensures that your family has cleaner, fresher air to breath.
- Schedule a tuneup – A yearly maintenance checkup from a professional HVAC technician is a crucial step in keeping your A/C running hassle-free for years. A trusted technician can perform simple but important routine maintenance steps and warn you about potential problems that might be developing so you can deal with them before they cause a costly breakdown.
- Cover the outside condensing unit – Winter weather can be harsh. Protect your outdoor A/C unit with a weighted piece of plywood or similar material to keep it from taking a beating. Protecting the top should be sufficient; avoid wrapping the whole unit to prevent moisture from getting trapped inside and rusting vital components. If you must cover it, find a custom-made cover with openings for ventilation.
For additional tips and to schedule an A/C tuneup (or a pre-season check for your heating system), please contact us at Ernst Heating & Cooling. Our team serves communities throughout southwest Illinois, including in Highland, Greenville, Troy, Collinsville, Maryville and Hamel.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, and Troy, Illinois and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Â