While homeowners in cooler regions of the country are getting their heating systems tuned up in preparation for winter, Yuma area residents may still be operating the air conditioner. If your A/C hasn’t been tuned up for a while, it may be less efficient than it should be. A yearly tune-up by a qualified HVAC professional is essential for maintaining efficiency, lowering your cooling costs, preventing common air conditioning problems and extending the life of your air conditioner.
In addition to annual preventive A/C maintenance, there are several things you can do to ensure your air conditioner 
operates efficiently between tune-ups to save you money on cooling your home.
Replace Your Air Filter
A dirty air filter restricts the airflow to your air conditioner and makes it work harder to keep you cool. It also allows dust to enter your system and build up on essential components, which can result in system failure. Check your air filter every month. When it’s clogged with dust, replace it with a quality, pleated filter for best results. After our long Southwest Arizona cooling season, if you haven’t checked your filter in a while, it very likely badly needs to be replaced. A clean air filter will decrease your energy consumption by up to 15 percent.
Clean the Coils
Every couple of years, have your A/C coils cleaned. The evaporator coil, located in your indoor unit, and the condenser coil, found outside, are responsible for the exchange of heat from indoors to outdoors. When they become coated with minerals and grime, your system can’t operate efficiently. Between coil cleanings, hose down your outdoor unit regularly to remove debris from the fins.
Inspect Your Condensate Drain
Although your annual tune-up will include flushing the condensate drain to help prevent obstructions, it’s important to inspect it regularly to make sure it isn’t clogged. If your condensate pan overflows, your system will shut down and you may end up with water
For more expert advice about A/C maintenance in the Yuma area, please contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
