3 Easy Steps to Prep Your A/C for Summer

Spring and summer are filled with many wonderful weather days. However, homes can become uncomfortable as temperatures rise. To ensure your A/C can keep you comfortable be sure to plan ahead. Here are 3 Steps to Prep Your A/C for Summer!

Why A/C Prep Matters

Believe us when we tell you that preparation matters. You don’t want to simply turn on your A/C on the first hot day.  Failing to prep can be a costly mistake. You might face high utility bulls, an underperforming system, or cause it to overwork and breakdown. We don’t want you to be on the hook for large repair bills or thousands of dollars for an A/C replacement. Nothing lasts forever but we want you to extend the life of your air conditioning system and only replace it when it’s lived a good life.

So now that we’ve scared you a little. How should you prep your A/C system to ensure it runs effectively and efficiently all season long?

1. Remove Debris From the Outdoor Unit

2. Change Your Air Filters

Why change your AC filter? How can something as simple as changing an air filter be so important? The air filter’s job is to keep dust and debris out of your HVAC equipment. You’d be amazed how much builds up on there in a very short time.

Clogged Air Filters Can Cause Health Issues
Your air filter prevents harmful air particles from entering your home through your AC system. If your air filter is not changed regularly, it can these particles can enter your home and be very dangerous.

Your A/C System Work Harder
Clogged and dirty air filters do not allow adequate airflow through your system making your HVAC system less efficient. Your unit will have to work harder and longer in order to cool your home.

Higher Than Necessary Energy Bills
Clogged air filters make your A/C system less efficient and require more energy than necessary. That translates into higher energy costs.

Poor Indoor Air Quality
Your air filter keeps harmful pollutants from entering the home.  When your air filter is clogged, dust, dander, and other particles circulate through your home and may aggravate allergies, asthma, and cause other chronic respiratory conditions.

Reduces the Lifespan of your A/C System
Poor efficiency causes your A/C system to work harder. The extra wear-and-tear can cause premature failure of your unit causing high A/C repair or A/C replacement costs.

STEPS TO REPLACE YOUR A/C FILTER

1. Turn off power to your A/C: Turning this off prevents the air from blowing dust and grit into your system.
2. Locate the Air Filter
3. Remove the old filter.
4. Check the filter’s condition. 
5. Clean Reusable Filters: If the filter is reusable, brush away surface dirt, and run a vacuum with a soft brush attachment over the face. Spray (low-pressure) down the filter in the opposite direction of airflow. Allow the reusable filter to thoroughly air dry before you replace it.
6. Replace Disposable Filters. Before changing the air filter, Check Your Filter Size & MERV Rating. Disposable air filters usually come surrounded by a cardboard frame, while reusable washable air filters have a plastic frame; either will indicate the specific size of the filter. When you search for a home air filter replacement, choose the same size.
7. Place the filter correctly. Face It The Right Way. See our video here. 
8. Do not resume power to the HVAC unit until the clean, dry filter is in place.

That was easy, right? Set a reminder to do it monthly. And, don’t forget about your furnace if its filters are separate from your air conditioner.

3. Test Run Your A/C Unit

Now that you’ve prepped the indoor and outdoor components of your A/C system, wait for a nice warm day to test run your system. To test your air conditioner,  the outside temperature must be above 60 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of 48 hours. Some manufacturers may even recommend a temperature of 65 degrees. This is because turning on the air conditioner at a temperature lower than 60 degrees might actually damage the compressor of the unit. Read our blog post How to Test Run Your A/C.

Let Hillside tune-up your home’s cooling system.

The EPA, US Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR, and local utility companies all recommend annual air conditioner tune-ups to increase your cooling system’s efficiency. A tune-up of your air conditioning system can pay for itself over time and is less likely to break down when the unit is needed most. Optimal performance increases efficiency, which is what we are all looking for these days…savings on our energy bills. Regular maintenance increases the lifespan and can give you an idea of how much longer your system may have before considering replacement.

Whether you own a central air conditioning unit, heat pump, or even a ductless mini-split, Hillside’s HVAC technicians have the training, certifications, and knowledge to tune up these cooling systems.

If your air conditioning system is making loud or strange noises, call us at 302-738-4144 (DE&PA) or 410-398-2146 (MD).