Look for Debris and Obstructions
Air conditioners depend on unobstructed air intake in order to function properly. After several months of sitting dormant, plants, dirt, and other debris may be getting in the way and forcing your air conditioner to work overtime, which ends up using more electricity that you ultimately pay for. Take a look around your air conditioner and remove anything that could prevent proper airflow, but leave the cleanup to a professional if anything is inside of the unit.
Take It for a Test Drive
We hear you — the last thing you want right now is cool, conditioned air flowing through your home. However, it’s important to check to make sure that your air conditioner still turns on and works properly before you actually need it.
Turn the system on briefly and look for anything that doesn’t seem quite right. Odd smells, strange noises, and a lack of airflow are all indications that you’ll need to invest in AC repair services before the start of the season. It’s always good to find this out sooner rather than later — the only thing worse than your air conditioning system breaking down on a warm day is finding out that your local HVAC company is fully booked due to the seasonal surge!
Change the Filter
Your air conditioner’s filter is designed to catch dirt, dust, pet hair, and other contaminants before they make their way into your home. Your air filter should be replaced every one to three months, depending on the quality of your filter, whether you have pets, and if you have individuals in your household who suffer from allergies and asthma.
However, many homeowners forget about the filter and allow it to go unchanged for months on end, meaning that the filter isn’t able to do its job and the unit may have to work harder in order to keep your home cool.
Consider a New Thermostat
Smart thermostats can significantly reduce the wear and tear on your system by optimizing your cooling schedule and preventing you from unnecessarily using energy. You can set the thermostat to work around the hours you’re home, which temperature you would like the home to be, and even set limits on how much usage the system gets. If you’re currently using a manual thermostat, we can almost guarantee that you’ll fall in love with a smart thermostat from the moment you turn it on.
Schedule Routine AC Maintenance
We’ve listed this point last, but it’s by no means the least important tip in this discussion. In fact, it’s the most important tip because it takes all of the guesswork out of keeping your system working properly.
Quality Air Experts offers fast and affordable AC maintenance packages in which we come to your home to inspect your system, make adjustments or repairs as needed, and ensure that your family will be cool and comfortable throughout the spring and summer months.