Have you scheduled spring maintenance for your air conditioner yet? If not, now is a perfect time! We typically recommend this service right before you need your system the most, so it has the best chance of making it through summer without needing repairs or breaking down on you unexpectedly. During maintenance, our technicians fully inspect your air conditioner, clean it inside and out, make adjustments, and recommend repairs to you if needed.
This all helps your air conditioner perform better, last longer, and keep you more comfortable! Of course, this type of maintenance service should be left to the professionals—forgoing professional maintenance and trying to do complex work on your own can actually void out the system warranty. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take that help with overall maintenance. Curious? Read on!
Clean Your Vent Registers
Vent registers, or rather the vent covers, in your home, do not get much attention during the year. This leads to them getting dusty or even covered up when furniture is moved. Take a good look through all your rooms and check on your vents.
Make sure nothing is blocking them, and for each vent take a damp rag and wipe away excess dust and lint that might have accumulated. This allows your HVAC system to work with the best airflow, and it helps improve your indoor air quality a bit.
Clear the Area Around Your Outdoor Unit
The outside cabinet of your split air conditioning system is called the condenser unit. This unit houses the compressor, a fan, and the condenser coil. It needs to be clear on all sides and clean as well. Keep an eye out for lawn clippings, mulch, animal nests, branches, vines, weeds, and leaves—or anything that would restrict the operation of the cabinet to exhaust the heat from inside, outdoors.
If the cabinet is grimy at all, be sure to wash it off with a low-pressured hose as blasting water into the cabinet can damage the coils.
Clear the Area around Your Indoor Unit
Many people house their air conditioners indoor unit within their garage. Wherever yours is located, be sure it’s clear of anything that may obstruct performance. If you store cleaning materials nearby, considering putting them somewhere else, as the fumes can impact the performance and your enjoyment of your air conditioner.
Check and Change Your Air Filter!
There’s a common misconception that the air filter within your HVAC system is “just” there to protect your indoor air quality. First off, even if that were the case, you still want to change it on occasion. Its actual purpose is to protect the interior components of your HVAC system from dirt, dust, and other debris. If it’s too clogged up, it creates too much resistance to airflow and will negatively impact the performance of your air conditioner and cause your energy bills to rise.
This air filter should be swapped out every 1-3 months, depending on the type of filter and the level of contaminants in your home.
Reach out to our team for quality HVAC services in Norman, OK. At Comfort Incorporated, we keep your family safe, healthy and comfortable–call today, service today!
