You’ve survived another long winter and you’re already welcoming the warmer weather and longer sunlit hours. Soon the stifling heat and humidity will hit Florida, and your air conditioner will be working overtime.
Working with the technicians at Lindstrom Air now will help prepare your air conditioner for summer. Now’s the time to schedule a tune-up and maintenance check
on your air conditioner, because you don’t want to be caught on the first hot day of the year with a system that’s not properly functioning.
So what’s involved in preparing your air conditioner for the summer?
Check System Controls & Thermostat
First, if your system controls or thermostat isn’t working, you can’t expect your air conditioner to work properly either. Checking thermostat settings will ensure that your system can keep you cool with the appropriate amount of energy usage whether you’re home or away.
Clean Supply Vents and Return Grills
This part can easily be done by you before the technician arrives as part of your regular cleaning. Routinely clean the supply and return air grills and vents so they are open and free of debris. Use a vacuum to remove any pet hair or dust that might have accumulated. This will help your indoor air quality as well as your air conditioner’s efficiency.
Clean/Replace Air Filters
Cleaning or replacing your air filters should happen at least twice a year. With dirty air filters, the air flow can become restricted, thus reducing efficiency of your system and costing you money. It can also affect your indoor air quality because your system will recirculate dust throughout your home (think of the extra cleaning you’ll have to do).
Clean A/C Condenser Coils
Your outdoor unit might have taken a few beatings over the winter, especially through storm season. You’ll want to clean the area around the unit to free it from any debris, leaves and dirt to allow maximum airflow and efficiency. A technician will get inside the box to clean the coils of any dirt that might have clogged the system by using a coil brush or a soft brush on a vacuum.
While inside the unit, your technician will tighten any loose mounting bolts, add some lightweight oil to any oil port (if your unit has them) and clean up any excess water in or around the unit.
Check Coolant Lines
Coolant lines (refrigerant tubes/pipes that run from the evaporator on the air handler to the condenser outside) will have foam insulation covering them. The technician will check the quality of the insulation for any fraying or missing pieces.
You can learn more about proper care for your air conditioning unit from EnergyStar.gov.
Contact your trust-certified Lindstrom Air Conditioning crew to schedule your system maintenance and discuss the best ways you can keep cool while saving money this summer.