If you’re like most people, you turned your air conditioner on pretty early this year. We reached extreme heat much earlier than last year, which meant a lot of people came into the summer unprepared. That means that a lot of people put off the preparation you should usually go through to start off a new air conditioning season. Sometimes, animals can nest in the system over the winter, new shrubbery can grow around the system that will affect its airflow, or you could simply need a tune-up/cleaning on your machine. So the question remains, is your air conditioner ready for summer?

Here are three quick tips you can follow to make sure that your air conditioner will last you the entire summer:

Check Your Filters

This is common knowledge, but it’s very easy to overlook. The filters in whatever distributes the air throughout your home (indoor units for ductless, furnace or air handler for central) are often forgot about, but are one of the most common causes of breakdowns and part failures in the summer. A dirty filter significantly reduces the airflow in your system and causes it to be inefficient and run longer cycles.

All work and no rest makes your air conditioner inefficient. Make sure to check on your filter every 30 days and replace it if necessary.

Schedule Maintenance

Another necessity for your air conditioner is annual maintenance. This is the best way to keep your warranty vaild, identify potential part problems early (repair rather than replace) and to freshen up your system with a cleaning and adjustment.

Without proper maintenance your system will likely run inefficiently and will need repairs much sooner than you would expect. Click here to schedule an appointment today.

Clean the Condenser

If you haven’t done this already, it’s a very easy step that will increase the efficiency of your air conditioner. The coils that wrap around the exterior of your condenser (outdoor unit) can build up a lot of dirt and grime through the winter and spring. Just like a dirty air filter on your indoor unit, a dirty coil can affect the air flow of your system.

This is one of our favourite tips, because it’s so easy. Turn on your hose and give the system a good rinse. Thoroughly spraying the system should loosen up most buildup from the past seasons, but if a lot remains, you may need to schedule a professional cleaning.

It’s not a difficult job to get your air conditioner ready for summer, but it is easily overlooked. Too often people think that if the system is working, it’s fine. We prefer to inform our customers of a much more proactive way to run their HVAC equipment which will save you significant amount of money on monthly bills and repair costs.

Click here if you have any other questions about getting your air conditioner ready for summer.