Most people wouldn’t set off on a road trip in the summer without making sure their car is in good running condition. The same should be true of your air conditioning system, making summer HVAC prep an absolute necessity before the worst of the heat hits.
Cleaning it up as much as you can and having it professionally serviced will prevent an unexpected breakdown that could make life indoors uncomfortable or unbearable.
The first step in a worry-free summer is to make an appointment with your HVAC contractor to have the system serviced. In the meantime, you can check the air filter, changing it if necessary, and tend to the outdoor condenser. Remove any dead vegetation and debris around the condenser and hose off the coil and fins as part of summer HVAC prep. These easy tasks will improve the system’s performance during the interim until the HVAC pro arrives.
Before the appointment, look over the register covers throughout your home, looking for excessive dust that might indicate ductwork problems. Check the batteries for the thermostat. If it’s still working, but they’ve been in the thermostat for a year, change them. Without a functioning thermostat, your air conditioner won’t be able to turn on or off.
During the HVAC inspection, the technician will:
- Deep clean all the components, including the fan blades, the motors and the electronic components. Dirty electrical parts don’t conduct electricity well, but store it instead. During cleaning, the HVAC pro will inspect the compressor and contactor.
- Lubricate the parts that need it and check the belt tension.
- Measure the amount of refrigerant in the system. Too little or too much lowers the A/C’s energy efficiency.
- Test the air pressure through the air handler and the ducts.
- Clean the drain pan and drainpipe so that the condensation flows easily outside.
- Calibrate the thermostat if necessary.
The experts at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company can help you with summer HVAC prep to keep your energy bills as low as possible and increase the dependability of your equipment. We provide trusted HVAC services for Yuma-area homeowners.
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 other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
