Summer is the worst time for your air conditioning to quit working. When the AC quits working or isn’t working with optimal effectiveness, your indoor comfort is compromised. Even if the AC is still hobbling along, you risk skyrocketing cooling expenses. With summer AC maintenance, it becomes simple to improve cooling efficiency while also extending the life of the cooling system in your Trinity, Florida, home. Summer AC maintenance tips include changing the air filter, cleaning the unit and clearing the condensate drain.
Change the Air Filter
Probably the easiest summer AC maintenance tip to follow is to change the air filter regularly. The purpose of the filter is to trap airborne particles such as dirt and dust. Naturally, the more particles the filter traps, the dirtier it will become. Over a few weeks, the filter may become so dirty that it eventually clogs. When this happens, it’s crucial to change the filter.
A clogged filter hinders airflow, which can lead to inefficient cooling. It can also result in poor indoor air quality because unfiltered air will bypass its way into the system and through air vents.
Clean the Evaporator Coils
The evaporator coils on a cooling system play a major role in how efficiently the AC can cool your home. Over time, the coils collect dust and dirt, and this can lead to improper airflow. Without sufficient airflow, the AC has to work harder to cool the home. It will consume excessive amounts of energy to keep the house at your desired temperature. The more energy it consumes, the higher your cooling expenses will be.
Additionally, because the AC has to work harder to cool your home when it has dirty evaporator coils, this adds wear and tear to the system. You can avoid this problem and increase cooling efficiency by cleaning the coils. However, because the evaporator coils are located in a hard-to-reach spot, it’s very important to have them cleaned by a professional. If you attempt to clean them, you run the risk of injuring yourself or damaging the AC.
Clear the Condensate Drain
Clogged condensate drains often lead to high levels of humidity in a home. This means that even when the thermostat is set to a cool and comfortable temperature, it will feel much warmer inside the house. As a result, you may find yourself constantly adjusting the thermostat again and again to a lower temperature. In doing so, the AC will work around the clock and consume large amounts of energy. To avoid this HVAC issue, a professional technician can clear the condensate drain during a summer AC maintenance session.
Clean the Condenser Coil
Another important component of a cooling system is the condenser coil, which removes heat from the air conditioner’s gaseous refrigerant and turns it into a liquid. Much like the evaporator coils, the condenser coil will become dirty with dirt and dust. This is particularly true during the summer when the AC is running daily. A dirty condenser coil reduces cooling efficiency and adds unnecessary wear and tear to the system. The easiest way to avoid this problem is to have one of our service techs clean the coil during an AC summertime maintenance session.
Check the Landscaping
Your home’s landscaping plays a major role in cooling efficiency. Ideally, you should strategically plant trees and shrubs in specific locations to limit the amount of heat absorbed by your home’s roofs and walls. To do this, you’ll need to plant landscaping so that it shades the western exposures of your home. When planting landscaping, keep in mind that you must keep vegetation away from the outdoor HVAC unit. When the plants are too close to the unit, this can result in HVAC overheating, along with reduced ventilation.
Use all of the above summer HVAC maintenance tips as great starting points for improving cooling efficiency. To learn additional maintenance tips you can use to save even more energy and optimize cooling efficiency, contact Nuccio Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. at 813-961-7895.
