Before you enjoy some summertime fun, you need to ensure your home is ready for the heat. Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system will only keep you cool if you take care of it. You should check off the items on this list before the weather warms up too much this year.
Summertime Checklist for Your HVAC System
1. Tune up Your Air Conditioner
Before hot weather arrives, your air conditioner needs a professional tune-up. While you can do some simple tasks to take care of your air conditioning on your own, other maintenance activities will require a trained professional. An experienced HVAC technician can easily clean out the drain line, check the refrigerant, lubricate machine parts and tighten loose connections during a routine tune-up.
A tune-up helps improve your air conditioner's energy efficiency, and it can save you money in other ways as well. Getting a tune-up can improve the air quality in your home. Better efficiency also means that you are less likely to have hot and cold spots in each room. Other than preventing potential breakdowns, tune-ups are also a requirement for manufacturer warranties.
2. Clean Your Air Filters
Throughout the year, your HVAC system needs regular maintenance in order to work properly. Clogged air filters mean your air conditioner has to work harder to cool your home. If your air conditioner has to work harder, the equipment will wear out faster.
Fortunately, you can easily fix clogged air filters. An HVAC technician can show you how to replace the filters. In general, you should replace air filters every 90 days. If you live in a heavily polluted area or have a lot of pets, you may need to replace it every three weeks.
The opposite is also true. If you rarely use your air conditioner, you may only need to replace it every six months. You can see if your air filter needs replacing by pulling it out of your air conditioner. If you cannot see through the filter, then you need to get a new one.
3. Clean Your Evaporator Coil
To keep your air conditioner working properly, you need to clean the unit's evaporator coil. After you open the door and find the coil, you have to remove any screws or bolts. Then, you can use a soft brush to remove dust. Next, the coil should be sprayed with a specialty coil cleaner.
Afterward, you should clean the drain pan. It can be cleaned with soap, bleach and hot water. Once it is cleaned, you can pour a cup of bleach and water down the drain. When you are done, you can put everything back together again.
4. Inspect the Drainage Line
Over time, mold and algae can build up in your drainage line. This can slow down or stop the flow of water. Before summer, you should inspect the drainage hose and remove any mold.
To do this, you must find the drainage hose. Follow the pipe to where it drains outside your unit. This may be outside of your home or in a floor drain in your basement. Then, you can use a vacuum hose to flush out any algae or mold.
Figuring out how to clean the drainage line and evaporator coil can be difficult. Because of this, it is generally a good idea to contact us for maintenance. In addition to knowing how to conduct routine repairs, we can also help with more challenging problems.
5. Prevent Air Leaks
Your air conditioner could be the most efficient machine in the world, but you will still end up with a steep electricity bill if your home is not winterized properly. Air leaks and bad insulation allow cold air to leak out of your home.
To save money on electricity costs, you should start by locating and sealing air leaks. When you think you have found a leak, you can hold up a burning incense stick to the leak's location. If the smoke starts to move in erratic directions, there is definitely a leak present.
Choose Kern Heating & Cooling Co. for Your HVAC Needs
If you need to repair and maintain your HVAC system, we can help. Kern Heating & Cooling Co. has years of experience fixing HVAC equipment. To find out more about our services, contact us today!
