5 DIY Ways to Prepare Your HVAC System for Summer

With summer upon us in the Brooks, Georgia, area, now is a great time to prep your air conditioner for the season ahead. The heat and humidity of summer can put a major strain on your home’s comfort system. By properly cleaning and maintaining your unit, you can make sure that your air conditioner is well-prepared for the summer ahead. Handling simple tasks such as changing air filters and scheduling annual system maintenance can help improve your comfort, your HVAC system’s energy efficiency, and indoor air quality this summer.

Change the Air Filter

Kick off the summer season by putting a fresh air filter in your air conditioner. You should check this filter once a month for visible dust or discoloration. Change the filter when you notice it’s clearly dirty or, at a minimum, once every three months.

A clean air filter will improve your indoor air quality and increase efficiency for your HVAC unit because your system expends more energy to pull air through a dirty filter. When you make sure that your HVAC system has a clean filter to tackle the season’s cooling ahead, your air conditioner will experience less wear, tear, and strain.

Landscape Around the Exterior Unit

Before you begin this task, you may want to cut off the power to your air conditioner so that you can complete the job safely. Grab a rake and clear away leaves, twigs, and other debris gathered around the unit. Lightly spray the top of the unit with a hose to clean off dirt and pollen.

Trim away any grass or shrubbery around the unit for a few feet in all directions. You may want to consider paving this area to keep these types of obstructions away. If you keep grass growing around the exterior unit, make sure you’re vigilant about trimming it and keeping the grass short.

Check Your Air Vents

Check each air vent in the house for signs of potential problems. The vents should be clean, clear, and unobstructed. If you can see visible signs of dirt and dust around the air vents, it may be time to schedule a duct cleaning. You can remove dust from the air registers themselves by removing the vent covers from the walls for a quick cleaning. Begin by vacuuming the registers. Wipe with a dust cloth if only a small amount of dust remains. If the vent covers are caked in dust, you may want to wash them in soapy water.

Inspect Coolant Pipe Insulation

The coolant pipe that leads from your air conditioner into the house should be insulated for energy efficiency. Check the insulation at the beginning of the season to make sure it hasn’t suffered any damage over the winter months. Extreme changes in temperature can cause the insulation to crack.

If the insulation is damaged, you should remove and replace it for the season ahead. Proper insulation around the coolant pipe will help the coolant maintain the proper temperature so that you don’t lose cooling outside the house, and you can enjoy optimum temperatures and minimum energy expenses.

Schedule Annual HVAC System Maintenance

If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to schedule your air conditioner maintenance. While you can DIY many HVAC tasks, this job is one of the tasks you should leave to a pro. You should have this maintenance check taken care of early in the spring, before you turn your air conditioner on for the first time. However, if it’s been more than 12 months since your last AC maintenance visit, you should have this service taken care of as soon as possible.

During your system maintenance check, one of our service technicians will carefully inspect the system and take care of the essential adjustments that help your air conditioner operate at peak efficiency. This servicing includes tightening electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, and properly calibrating the thermostat. A system that receives regular maintenance will enjoy lower energy costs, fewer repair needs, and a longer lifespan.

While you can DIY basic air conditioner maintenance, you should call our professionals for all major repairs. If your air conditioner needs a little extra care and attention, contact Trinity Air Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning at (770) 691-5394.

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