It’s the first day of summer and the heat outside is rising exponentially. You go to ramp up your AC so you can stay cool indoors, but it fails when you need it the most. This is a nightmare during a heatwave, especially since you’re not the only one who will be calling for a professional to fix AC issues. However, this disaster can also be easily avoided with proper AC maintenance. Before the first heatwave of the season strikes, learn what AC repairs could benefit your unit and ensure it’s able to keep you nice and cool no matter how hot it is outside.
Remove Debris Around Your AC Unit
Before any AC repair can begin, you need to be able to access your unit. More specifically, you need to clear away any dirt or debris that may have accumulated around your outdoor condenser. Over the seasons it’s common for twigs, leaves, moss, and more outdoor debris to collect around your condenser. This not only blocks your access to the system, but severe buildup can even block airflow and make it more difficult to cool your indoor space. This is the last thing you want when trying to cool your home on a hot day.
After removing any debris surrounding your condenser, carefully inspect your unit for any damage. Spotting this early is crucial to avoiding an expensive AC fix in the future. Leaks, rust, and worn out or broken parts are the most common physical signs that something is wrong with your unit and it’s time for professional AC repair.
Clean or Replace Air Filters
You rely on cool, clean air to keep you comfortable and safe during months when the heat climbs to dangerous levels. To ensure this can happen, you need to clean and replace your air filters on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb is to check and clean your air filters once a month and replace them every three months. This will prevent dirt from clogging up your filters which can restrict airflow into your space. The best part is, this is a simple AC repair service that you can do on your own or implement into a professional HVAC maintenance plan.
Clean Condenser and Evaporator Coils
When performing certain AC repair tasks like cleaning coils, it’s important to shut off power to your AC unit to prevent electrical shocks. Turn off the AC unit and then flip the circuit breaker off to ensure your safety. Next, you’ll need to clean both your evaporator and condenser coils. Evaporator coils can be accessed by removing the panel to your indoor AC system. Likewise, you need to remove the panels of your outdoor unit to clean the condenser coils. From there, use a coil brush to remove any debris around the coils and then spray with a foaming coil cleaner. After about 20 minutes, gently rinse the coils with water using a spray bottle. Remember to make sure all power to the AC unit is off. Use a shop vacuum on wet mode to clean up the rest of the debris around the coils and leave the access doors open for a few hours to sufficiently dry the area.
Inspect Refrigerant Lines and Drainage
Refrigerant lines and drainage components are often overlooked parts of your cooling system, but they play a vital role in keeping your indoor space cool in the summer. Start by inspecting the refrigerant lines running between your indoor and outdoor AC units. These lines should be properly insulated to prevent energy loss and condensation buildup. If the insulation is frayed or missing, it can cause your system to overwork itself, eventually requiring expensive AC repairs
Next, it’s time to check your AC unit’s drainage system. Moisture is pulled from the air as your AC unit cools your indoor temperature. This water needs to drain, but if the drain is clogged it has nowhere to go. This can result in mildew, mold, or puddles forming around your unit. All these symptoms can become dangerous if left untreated. That’s why you need to call a professional technician for an AC fix like this, to ensure the water buildup is resolved safely and effectively. And routine inspections can prevent these risky situations from happening as well as provide a way to get cheap AC maintenance that protects your system and your wallet.
Test Your Thermostat
Sometimes your unit may not require AC repair, but your thermostat does. This system controls your indoor temperature, so it better be working properly. Make sure your thermostat is set to “cool” and test it by lowering the temperature a few degrees below room temperature. It should kick on in a minute or two, but if it doesn’t it’s time to call for a professional AC fix. Testing your AC unit before a heatwave strikes is vital to prevent unnecessary strain on your systems and avoid expensive AC repairs. It’s a small but effective step in your cheap AC prep plan.
Don’t Have the Time to Perform Your Own AC Repair? Swyft Can Help!
AC maintenance is an absolute must if you want your unit to run when you need it most. You don’t have to perform all the required AC repair services alone though. Swyft is here to take the burden of AC repair off your shoulders and keep your systems healthy all year round. Call us for an estimate today and get an AC maintenance and repair plan that will get your unit ready for even the hottest days this year.
