Is Your AC Unit Ready for the Heat?
Your AC unit is essential in keeping you cool during the heat of summer, so it is vitally important that it is up and running efficiently. To protect against potential malfunction, regularly service and inspect it as part of a preventive maintenance plan.
Your air conditioning (AC) system consists of multiple components working in concert to deliver air conditioning to all areas of your home via your ductwork and into each room – making it imperative that you take time now to prepare it for summertime!
1. Change the Filter
If you are having difficulty cooling in Northern Nevada this summer, it may be worth replacing your AC filter. A dirty air filter can have an adverse impact on its efficiency.
Replacing a dirty filter with a new, cleaner one can extend the lifespan of your AC and decrease energy bills, as well as improve indoor air quality and decrease allergy symptoms.
Change the filter on your AC is simple and can be completed by anyone with some basic knowledge. But safety must always come first, so ensure to switch off your unit first before beginning this task.
Locate and identify your AC filter (if your home has one). Identify its size and type.
2. Clean the Condenser
Keeping your air conditioning system clean during the heat of summer is paramount to its proper functioning; otherwise, its evaporator coils won’t be able to absorb as much of the heat and humidity in your home as needed.
As with the condenser coils, your condenser coils must also be regularly cleaned in order to maximize efficiency and limit wear-and-tear on your system. Unclean coils make your condenser work harder and faster in order to produce the same amount of cool air, further straining its capacity and increasing costs for cooling services.
If you need assistance cleaning your condenser coils, contact an HVAC technician for professional guidance. They will conduct a comprehensive inspection and cleaning at each routine maintenance visit.
Starting the process off right can be as straightforward as taking advantage of a garden hose to apply biodegradable outdoor coil cleaner (often available at hardware stores). Allow it to soak for the time specified on its label before rinsing with water from your garden hose – repeat this procedure several times until all soap residue has been eliminated from your coils.
3. Check the Refrigerant Levels
Air conditioning units are essential in Las Vegas as the summers can become unbearably hot. A professional with a Nevada HVAC license can assist with prepping your AC unit to make sure that it stands up against the summer heat.
As part of your air conditioning summer preparations, one effective strategy for keeping it cool this season is checking its refrigerant levels. Your AC’s refrigerant is composed of freon – an organic chemical compound.
Your air conditioner uses heat pumps to transfer indoor heat into outdoor air. As it passes through its evaporator coil, however, the liquid transforms back to solid form before dissipating back into liquid state again.
Checking the refrigerant level in your AC is simple with various tools available such as gauges or special HVAC tools, but if your levels drop too low to do it yourself call an HVAC company right away to refill them.
4. Schedule a Tune-Up
Property owners in Northern Nevada should ensure their air conditioning unit is prepared for summer heat by scheduling regular AC maintenance and service, lest their system malfunctions and leaves them uncomfortable in their home or office.
Tuning-up your air conditioner regularly is one of the best ways to ensure it functions optimally and extend its lifespan by up to ten years, depending on how well you maintain it.
As part of a tune-up, your mechanic will inspect and test various elements of your vehicle’s performance such as its vacuum system, emissions levels, ignition timing and more.
Tuning your car’s engine regularly can save money in the long run by improving performance and fuel economy, while also helping prevent minor issues from turning into bigger ones. Tune-ups also can prevent smaller issues from worsening into major ones.