If you’ve dared to step outside lately, you know it’s hot. So, when is the last time you checked your central air conditioning? It’s probably been humming along for a couple of months now, taking the sting out of these soaring temperatures. But, only regular maintenance will keep it running smoothly.  Here are a few basic A/C maintenance procedures that you can do to keep your system humming right along through the rest of the summer season.

Some of these steps can be done by homeowners but others are better left to professionals. By having us do them for you will ensure that all aspects of your air conditioning maintenance are covered.  These tips are from the EPA:

• Check the thermostat. Make sure the A/C unit turns off and on at the right temperatures. If it doesn’t, it may indicate a bigger problem.
• All electrical connections should be checked to make sure they are tight. This check is best left to licensed professionals who are certified in this area.
• Check the drain pan and clean it if it’s dirty. If it’s full of water and debris, this can lead to problems with overflowing water and damage.
• Clean your coils. If you have dirty coils, this forces your unit to run longer to cool the air. The longer and harder it runs, the faster it will wear down, and the faster your electricity bill will go up.
• When needed, clean or change the air filter. A dirty filter means your unit is working more to do less. This is one of the simplest, yet most important, A/C maintenance tasks.
• Check the pressure of the refrigerant. This check is best left to licensed professionals who are certified in this area.
• If you feel comfortable doing it, clean the blower to ensure proper system airflow. The more air is displaced, the faster your house will cool down and the more you save on the electricity bill.

In addition to routine A/C maintenance, here are a few other tips to keep your house cool. Keep your air conditioning units clear of bushes by pruning them regularly. Keep your curtains or blinds shut during the day. Consider installing double-pane windows to seal in the cold air.

After all this work, you may need to take a nap. By all means do it; inside, in your well-maintained and efficient air conditioned home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioning (A/C) maintenance and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.