If you’re someone who is primarily staying home for the quarantine, you might find this a convenient and necessary time for home repairs and maintenance. As spring brings us warmer sunny days, now is the perfect time to get your air conditioner ready for summer. Since we can’t yet know what this summer will look like, it’s wise to make sure you’ll be able to stay inside your home — comfortably — as soon as the hot weather rolls in. If you’re concerned about the cost, don’t forget about our flexible payment options. Get your air conditioner running in top shape with these seasonal AC maintenance activities, and don’t hesitate to call us for the tasks that need to be done by a trained professional.
DIY Air Conditioner Maintenance
Replace your air filter. A dirty air filter will reduce the efficiency of your system and damage it, hiking up your energy bill in the process. Replacing it regularly is the cheapest way to give your HVAC system some TLC and prevent major wear-and-tear. Ask one of our technicians how often the filter for your system should be replaced, or replace your filter every month your system is in regular use. If you’re tired of buying new filters, make the switch to reusable — you’ll just have to pull it out and clean it when it gets dirty.
Clean vent covers and air return covers. Vent covers need to be cleaned regularly, especially any that are mounted into the floor. Vacuum the covers with a brush or crevice tool to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. You can also try taking them off to clean them with water and a mild detergent. If you can’t remove them, try stretching a damp cleaning cloth over the end of a tool such as a screwdriver in order to clean between each vent.
Inspect and clean the outdoor condenser unit. Your central air system won’t work well if air can’t flow through the outdoor condenser unit properly. First, turn off the power to the unit prior to inspecting or cleaning it. Then remove any debris from around the unit, and use a garden hose or shop vac to clean the vents. Once this is done, you can inspect the drain to make sure it’s flowing correctly.
Professional Air Conditioner Maintenance
Here are the important items that should be checked by your HVAC pro each spring:
- Clean ductwork — dirt and dust build up in your ducts and can be pulled into your air conditioner, gunking it up
- Check refrigerant levels and test for refrigerant leaks, repairing any if found
- Inspect the compressor & motor
- Replace worn belts & other parts
- Inspect & tighten electrical connections
- Test the thermostat
- Inspect & straighten the condenser fins
- Clean the evaporator coil
- Lubricate all moving parts
- Make sure the condenser unit is level
Get your AC maintained now to help prevent summer breakdowns. No one wants to be stuck inside a hot house during a Nevada summer. With a little preventative maintenance, we can do our best to make sure your unit is running in top shape all summer long.
As a business providing an essential service, Ross Heating and Air Conditioning is open and ready to serve you. We have put safety and sanitation measures in place to protect you — our valued customers and neighbors — including providing gloves, booties and masks for our technicians to wear when they enter your home. Call us today to schedule the service you need. We’ll ensure your air conditioner is ready for whatever summer brings.
