Before you turn on the AC to beat the summer heat, it’s important that you properly prepare your system for the warm weather.
By performing simple maintenance tasks on your cooling and heating systems, you can ensure their optimal performance to maximize the comfort in your building.
Yes, it’s even important to prepare your furnace for the hot summer months!
To get you started, here is your seasonal heating and cooling checklist to prepare your system for summer:
The Importance of Seasonal Maintenance
Whether you are preparing your AC for the summer or getting your furnace ready for winter, it’s important to perform seasonal maintenance on your HVAC system.
Doing so will ensure that there are no obstructions in your system that will impact the performance of your unit and impede air from flowing efficiently and cleanly.
Regular maintenance will also decrease the wear and tear on your system. Removing obstructions, inspecting components, and ensuring efficiency will extend the service life of your HVAC unit.
Speaking of efficiency, making sure that your unit runs properly will also save on power consumption expenses. When HVAC units are kept in good shape, they require less energy to produce the temperatures you desire.
Preparing Your Air Conditioning System for Summer
Turn On Your System Before It Gets Hot
The last thing you want to do is turn on your air conditioning on the first hot day of the season and find out it’s not working!
As soon as the weather warms up, turn on and test your AC unit. Check to see if produces cool air and maintains its temperature settings.
If you find the system is struggling to run, have a professional HVAC technician inspect it to diagnose any issues.
Clean the Condenser Unit
Central air conditioning units use an outdoor condenser unit and, during the fall and wintertime, it can easily become clogged with dirt and debris such as trash and foliage.
Keeping the area around your condenser unit clear will help prevent future issues and increase the system’s overall efficiency. Make sure there is at least a 2-foot clearance around the unit.
Replace Your Filters
Air filters are important in ensuring your HVAC system operates without dust and debris blockages and prevents unwanted particles from entering your space.
Although your filters should be replaced regularly throughout the year, summertime is an especially important time to do so.
When you don’t replace your air filters, you could face problems such as indoor water leakage.
Clean The Drain Lines
Most newer air conditioning systems come with sensors that will warn you if the drain line is clogged.
If your unit doesn’t have this feature, you should check to see if the drain pan is full of water – this means that your drain lines need to be cleaned out.
These lines tend to become clogged due to the regular operation of the AC unit so this should be inspected before you use your air conditioning during the summer.
Check Your Thermostat
The summertime is a good time to take a look at your thermostat. Ensure that the batteries are working and that there is no dust inside and outside of your thermostat.
If your thermostat is located near major appliances or any other sources of temperature, check to see that it isn’t giving false readings.
Test Your HVAC Unit
Lastly, it’s time to test your HVAC unit. Make sure it operates properly by setting your thermostat a few degrees lower than you normally would.
This will help you identify any issues that may need to be repaired by a licensed HVAC technician.
Preparing Your Heating System for Summer
When it comes to prepping your HVAC system for the summer, don’t forget about your heating equipment!
Performing basic furnace maintenance in the summertime will ensure that the system will be in good shape and ready to go when the temperatures start to dip.
Here are some ways you can prepare your heating system for the summer:
- Clean out any dirt and debris that accumulated during the winter.
- If your furnace uses a pilot light, make sure to switch it off in the summertime. Letting it burn in the summer will increase your energy bills by adding unnecessary heat to your AC unit.
- Test your carbon monoxide detectors when you stop using your furnace to avoid any associated health risks or even death.
- Schedule furnace maintenance to inspect the condition of your heating system. This way, if any repairs or replacements are necessary, you are better prepared.
Routine Servicing and Maintenance
These are some of the tasks you can do to get your HVAC system ready for summer!
However, there are some preventative measures that should be undertaken by an HVAC professional.
Advantage Refrigeration is proud to offer seasonal maintenance services that will help keep your HVAC system’s mechanical and electrical components in tip-top shape!
Our team of professional service technicians is ready to help you get your air conditioning ready for the hot summer weather.
