Summer is an exciting time to share your home and backyard with family and friends. It’s also a time when keeping people cool indoors can be a challenge, and you’ll experience high electric bills. Let’s explore what AC maintenance experts recommend to achieve reliable comfort and lower energy costs.
Schedule a Spring Cooling Tune-Up
Experts recommend annual AC maintenance whether you have a central AC, heat pump, or ductless mini-split system. The optimal time to schedule an appointment is early in the spring, before you need to cool your home. A technician will perform a multipoint inspection and comprehensive cleaning. That includes cleaning both the evaporator and condenser coils. Other aspects of a tune-up include:
- Lubricating moving parts
- Calibrating the thermostat
- Testing the refrigerant pressure
- Tightening electrical and mechanical connections
Consider Advanced AC Maintenance
While you don’t need to do it every year, schedule a duct camera inspection every several years or so. Your HVAC technician can then recommend any advanced maintenance you need. Most households will require professional duct cleaning every three to five years. Other advanced services you may need over the years include duct sealing and air balancing.
Update Your Smart Thermostat
All modern households should have a programmable thermostat and, ideally, a smart thermostat. Automatic temperature scheduling alone can lower your overall cooling costs by up to 10%. Many newer smart thermostats support automatic updating. If yours doesn’t, check for any firmware and software updates. It’s also important to check your schedules and profiles and make sure they’re still appropriate for your household.
Check Your HVAC Filter and Replace It As Needed
The industry rates HVAC filters using the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). Most modern systems support at least MERV 8 and many as high as MERV 13. If you’re unsure what MERV you should use, check with your local HVAC company. Using a high MERV will help keep your AC cleaner and more efficient. That said, don’t use a higher rating than supported because it will actually undermine comfort and efficiency. During the summer months, check the filter at least once a month and replace it when you can see that it’s dirty.
Dust and Open All Your Vents
Spring is an excellent time to clean the faces and undersides of your vents. If there’s excessive dust accumulation, it could be a sign you need professional duct cleaning. It’s also important to make sure all your vents are open unless you have a zoned system. With traditional systems, closing your vents will disrupt static pressure, thereby undermining the system’s efficiency.
Maintain a Perimeter Around Your Outdoor Unit
You should maintain a 1- to 3-foot perimeter around your AC’s outdoor unit. It should be clear of grass, bushes, and overhanging branches. Otherwise, clutter can accumulate and disrupt airflow through the outdoor unit.
Regularly Check the Outdoor Unit and Keep It Clear
Even with the recommended perimeter, check for debris once a week. If you notice a buildup, clear it out with a leaf blower or call an HVAC professional to do it.
Benefit From Ceiling Fans in Active Living Areas
Using ceiling fans can be very beneficial for cooling your home throughout the summer. Set them to the highest fan speed and a counterclockwise rotation. That will help cool people through the wind chill effect and even out your home’s cooling.
Consider Installing a Dehumidifier
The ideal relative humidity (RH) for your home is somewhere between 40% and 50%. While an AC does dehumidify as a byproduct of cooling, it isn’t a dehumidifier. If you live in a humid climate, achieving 50% RH through AC alone may not be possible. In that case, installing a dehumidifier can improve your comfort and lower your overall energy bills.
AC Maintenance in Hudson Valley and the Surrounding Areas
Located in Middletown, NY, WK Mechanical Inc has provided AC maintenance for area households since 1945. Our NATE-certified technicians service all brands and models of central AC, heat pump, and ductless mini-split systems. We offer a maintenance plan that can help you save money while making seasonal tune-ups more convenient. You can also benefit from a free in-home comfort consultation performed by our experts. To schedule an appointment, call today or message us online.
