Is your air conditioner ready for the heat of summer? Take these steps to be sure.
Heating and cooling a home are among the largest energy expenses most Americans face, says the U.S. Department of Energy.
Right now, you might be enjoying low utility bills, especially if you live in a climate with perfect spring weather. But the “I can’t believe it’s this hot!” summer days are coming. Soon, you’ll run the air conditioning around the clock just to stay comfortable.
That could cost you a lot of money if your system isn’t ready. These simple steps can prepare your AC for the warmer summer months.
1. CHANGE THE FILTERS
This is probably the easiest form of air-conditioning maintenance, but many people don’t do it often enough. The filters should be replaced every month or two to keep your AC running smoothly.
2. HAVE GREENWAY INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
If you don’t already have one, you can gain significant energy savings by installing a programmable thermostat and setting it to reduce the use of air conditioning or heat at times when you don’t need it, like when you’re away for work.
3. CLEAN THE COILS ON THE OUTSIDE UNIT
During the winter, your AC’s outside unit has been collecting dust, mud and other debris. All of that gunk clogs up the unit, causing your AC to run sluggishly.
For lightly soiled units, disconnect the power and spray down the outside of the unit with a garden hose. For heavily soiled units, buy a commercial air-conditioner cleaner from a hardware store.
4. REMOVE DEBRIS AROUND THE OUTSIDE UNIT
Plants, leaves, high grass and debris located close to your outside unit can reduce your AC’s performance. Before you start running your AC, cut the grass, clean out any debris and consider removing plants that block the unit.
During the summer, check the unit for debris at least once a month.
5. HAVE GREENWAY CHECK THE DUCTWORK FOR LEAKS
According to the University of Florida, sealing leaky ducts can generate significant savings on heating and cooling:
“Leaky ducts make your HVAC work much harder — ducts leaking just 20% of the conditioned air passing through them cause your system to work 50% harder.”
Want to know what measures you should take to stay cool and save energy in the summer? Contact Greenway Heating & Cooling in Kingman AZ for professional heating and cooling help!