How to Prepare your A/C for Spring and Summer
In San Diego, spring is in and summer is on its way. If you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to make sure your air cooling unit will be ready for the heat.
Make sure your air conditioning coils are clean. Check the large coil on your outdoor unit (and fan pushing air through it) for clearance and make sure no part of trees, bushes, grass, or other plants is hindering air flow around the equipment. We suggest that you clean the coil and condenser every year, but at least once every three years. You’ll want to power off the unit beforehand and use a bristled tool to get rid of grass or any other substance on the vents or fan blades. Specific coil cleaner can be bought and applied to the outdoor coil and after a few minutes (according to the directions) rinsed with water.
Depending on your air cooling system’s design, you should check your air filter and indoor coil too. It’s important that the replacement filters you buy are the exact size and kind as the original (the filters specific to your individual unit) to ensure a precise fit. A poorly fitting one will not filter your air as it should and can lower the energy efficiency of your whole unit. Not only should it fit correctly, but an old filter should be swapped out as necessary to guarantee your cooling unit’s optimal function. Make sure that the casing around your air handler (for instance, if located in the attic) where your filter inserts is tight against air leakage; if it’s not, it might cause your system to allow warm air into the gap, reducing its effectiveness in cooling. The indoor coil, depending on the air conditioner, might require a cooling specialist’s services to clean because of its inaccessibility on some units.
Ductwork is a general area needing yearly inspection. Nothing wastes your energy more, raises your energy bill higher, and keeps your house from cooling optimally than duct air leaks. Testing is about the same as for heating units. All doors and windows solidly closed, turn on all vent fans in your bathroom and kitchen, and ensure your air conditioning is stopped completely. Make sure all AC vents, especially attic, have no air moving out of them; otherwise there’s a leak.
If you’re in the San Diego area and suspect air leaks in your ductwork or are unsure your unit is running at optimum efficiency, the certified cooling specialists at 1-800-anytyme are available 24-7 for all your air conditioning needs. Call (760) 477-0072 today.
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