Written by: Your Filter Connection
Winter is upon us, but soon we’ll need to prepare our home for spring and summer. That means rising temperatures straining a system that hasn’t been used in months. Aside from the obvious benefit of an air conditioner that works, you’ll be saving money using your system in peak efficiency. A properly maintained unit has an easier time improving the temperature within your home, which means you home is more comfortable too.
There are a few things you can do right now that will help to improve the overall efficiency of your system, and keep it in running shape in time for the warmer months.
Basic Maintenance Steps
The most important step to keep in mind is regular replacement or cleansing of home air filters. Regular maintenance of your filters helps improve the air quality in your home, and it reduces the buildup of debris within the unit. The filter should be located near the unit itself, but may also be located in a grille on the wall or ceiling.
An electrostatic air filter is one of the best options for your money. It has special fibers that are charged to capture particles with the opposite charge. This is great for those smaller particles that cause buildup of dust.
Next, clean the fans and the coils in your unit. Even with an ionic residential air filter, dust is still going to make its way into your unit. Cleaning those coils once or twice a year is all you need to keep them in great working order. Of course, more vigilant handy people are welcome to create a cleaning routine.
Before you begin cleaning the unit, shut off all power. Inspect the outside unit for any bending or warping around the coils, and use a simple tool from your local hardware store to straighten them out if you find any. Though it’s tempting to use a power washer, it’s probably not the best idea. You may accidentally bend the fan if the pressure is too high.
Final Steps
The final step that rounds out things you can do yourself is to inspect your thermostat. Make sure that older mechanical thermostats are perfectly level, and run all systems through a normal cooling cycle. Note the temperature as you start. After about fifteen minutes, check the temperature to see how it has improved for an indication of how well your system is working.