The summer heat is here again in Houston! This May so far has been the hottest May on record. That means AC units are going to be worked overtime during the summer months. If you are not careful, your AC unit could go out at the worst time of the year. Luckily, we have some tips to help keep you AC unit in Houston running smoothly and last longer, cooling you throughout the summer. Here are some AC tips for the Summertime.
Check Your Filters.
Hopefully, you already did this during the springtime. If you haven’t yet, then this is the perfect time to do so. If you live where there is a lot of tree pollen or animals, you may want to change your filter once a month or so. Keeping a clean filter is important because it protects your HVAC system from dust and debris, not just you.
Don’t Block Your Vents.
Make sure that one of your pieces of furniture or boxes is not blocking the air vent in the room. A blocked air vent will make it harder for the room to cool down, and in turn put more stress and strain on your AC unit to cool down the room. This can cause your AC unit to give out earlier than it should.
Clean Your Condenser Coils.
To clean your condenser coils, first, shut the power off to them. Next, spray the coils with water to remove dirt and debris. A dirty condenser coil will struggle to transfer heat to the outside air, making it less effective at cooling your home.
Avoid Opening and Closing Windows and Doors excessively.
Your A/C unit works by sensing the ambient air temperature and cycling on and off to get the air to match the settings you selected. If you are opening and closing windows and doors excessively, you are making the AC unit work harder to match the thermostat settings. The less work you can make for your AC unit, the better and will go along way in making sure your unit lasts throughout the summer.
Make Sure Your Windows and Doors are Sealed.
If the cool air of the AC unit is escaping outside by finding unsealed areas around windows and doors, it makes it harder to cool the room. In fact, it is not only letting cool air out but also hot air in. Make sure you apply caulking, weather stripping, and insulation as needed to prevent cool air loss.
Check Your Thermostat.
If you have been setting your thermostat to a reasonable temperature, yet it is just not cooling off to that temp, your thermostat may need recalibrating. It might be unable to read the temperature in your home and thus fail to turn on to cool it off. A professional AC technician can come and check your thermostat for you. If you live in Houston, our AC repair technicians can come have a look at your thermostat and see if it’s broken or just needs recalibrating.
Have Your Vents and Duct Work Inspected.
Keeping your vents clean ensures that no dust or debris is preventing air from freely flowing out. This helps the AC unit work less to cool your home. Consider getting a professional AC repair technician out to inspect your duct work and clean if necessary.
You’ll want to go through these steps before it gets any hotter. This is a preventative way to resolve small issues before they become big ones. If you need help with preventive AC maintenance here in Houston, give us a call to schedule your appointment today!
