Even before the hot summertime weather settles in, you need to be thinking about getting your air conditioning system prepared. When you need to rely on your cooling system every day, you never want to wait until the last minute to test it out. Instead, keep the following checklist handy.
Schedule Maintenance Service
One of the absolute best ways to properly prepare your air conditioning system for the upcoming summertime heat is to schedule maintenance service. This is a house call where one of our experienced HVAC technicians will inspect, clean, and test your air conditioning system. This is necessary for maintaining the warranty coverage on your system, and it extends its overall lifespan. The technician will inform you about any potential problems so that you can fix them before they become major issues.
Put in a New Air Filter
Another must-do is to change out the dirty filter in your HVAC system. This filter is necessary to remove unwanted airborne toxins from your system to protect the system’s internal components while boosting your overall indoor air quality level. If the filter is allowed to get overly dirty, it can restrict airflow and cause your system to operate inefficiently. Change the filter at the start of the spring season and check it every month. Most homeowners find that they need to replace their AC filter every two to three months.
Get a Smart Thermostat and Program It
When it comes to optimizing your system’s usage for both energy efficiency and extending the lifespan of your system, one of the best ways to do it is with a smart thermostat. This type of thermostat allows you to program in a specific temperature schedule based on your routine. You can have the interior temperature increase at times when you’re not home to save on energy bills. A smart thermostat even gives you the capability to alter your thermostat settings from your smartphone, no matter where you’re at. This can allow your thermostat settings to change with your plans.
Schedule Our Duct Cleaning and Sealing Services
There’s no doubt that the spring season can bring some nasty allergy flare-ups for a lot of people. One space where you don’t want to experience these flare-ups is inside your home. Unfortunately, over time, airborne toxins can build up inside your ducts and reduce your indoor air quality level, leading to more allergy symptoms. Scheduling an appointment for our professional duct cleaning service is ideal for removing unwanted debris buildup. Pairing this activity with duct sealing is a great idea to maximize the efficiency of your ductwork for the upcoming season.
Consider Getting UV Sanitizing Lights
If you or another member of your household suffers from severe allergies, asthma, or another respiratory condition, you may want to consider investing in UV lighting. This type of lighting is ideal for disrupting the DNA of unwanted airborne toxins. This renders the toxins unable to reproduce, which limits the amount of toxins in your home. You can choose air-sanitizing UV lights that a technician will install in your return ducting or purchase coil-sanitizing lights that hang over the evaporator coil in your system’s indoor air handler unit.
Clean Your Outdoor Unit
Your outdoor condenser unit plays a big role in the overall functionality of your cooling system. If the unit has debris pushed up against its sides, it won’t be able to effectively release heat into the air. This can allow heat to build up inside your home and leave you hot and uncomfortable. Taking a few moments and cleaning around your outside condenser unit is ideal. Trim back any shrubbery or low-hanging branches, as you’ll want a good 3 feet of open space around the unit for optimal functionality.
Straighten Bent Fins on Condenser
While you’re cleaning up outside around your condenser unit, you’ll want to assess its fins. These are the small grates that surround the outside of the unit. Unfortunately, they are tiny and susceptible to bending under little force. When bent, they may not properly release enough hot air for your air conditioning system to work effectively. It’s best to straighten any bent fins using a screwdriver or a specialized fin comb that you can find at your local hardware store.
Check Your Air Vents
If you rely on central air conditioning or a ducted heat pump system to stay cool during the hot summer months, then there are various vents around your home. It’s best to check all your supply and return vents to ensure that they’re properly open. Ideally, you want three feet of open space around each vent for optimal performance of your cooling system. Any vents that are restricted by items like plants and furniture can cause uneven cooling in that room of your home.
Switch Your Ceiling Fan Direction
Ceiling fans are a great way to help you beat the heat without raising your energy bills. In fact, running them in the room that you’re relaxing in can help you to feel much cooler than it actually is. You may even be able to turn up the setting on your thermostat and remain comfortable. Be sure to switch your ceiling fans to spin in a counterclockwise direction during the hot summer months. This will create a nice breeze to effectively cool you down.
Purchase a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
There’s no doubt that Florida can be a very humid climate. When there’s too much humidity in the air, it can make you feel overly stuffy and hot. This is because your body will struggle to release sweat, which is your natural cooling process. Removing excess indoor humidity can be a great way to help you feel cooler and more comfortable in your home without having to constantly run your air conditioning system. You can remove this humidity effectively with a whole-home dehumidification system that works alongside your air conditioning system for optimal indoor comfort.
Consider Upgrading Your Cooling System
If last season’s cooling bills were through the roof, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer cooling system. Systems today are much more energy-efficient than systems produced just a decade ago. You can choose a high-efficiency model that offers even more energy savings. Investing in a central heat pump or ductless mini-split system will typically make you eligible to receive a federal tax incentive and some local rebates, which can help you recoup some of your upfront investment costs.
Helpful AC Maintenance Service
Ahoy! Cooling & Heating offers helpful AC maintenance service to the Tampa Bay, FL community. We can also help with all your air conditioning, heating, ductless mini-split system, indoor air quality, and thermostat installation needs. If you need a new central AC unit, consider our Stress-Free AC Program, which includes a smart thermostat, air filters, and free repairs and replacements for normal wear and tear. Simply call Ahoy! Cooling & Heating today to book your next service consultation with one of our helpful HVAC technicians.
