Getting your air conditioning system ready for the sweltering summer months is crucial, especially in places like Blue Diamond, where the mercury can really shoot up. One of the first steps you should take is a thorough inspection of your AC system to ascertain that all parts are in working order. This includes looking for any signs of wear and tear on the system itself, like frayed wires or worn belts, which could spell disaster if they lead to a breakdown when the system is under strain. Now is also the time to clean or replace your air filters, which could very well be filthy if you haven't attended to them in recent months. You're much better off with clean filters than with dirty ones, and they have a direct relationship to the quality of the air that you're breathing in. If your system has a programmable thermostat (or if you're using a plain old mercury one), make sure it's set to the right temperature for both comfort and efficiency.
Assessing your ductwork for leaks and blockages is a key part of your summer air conditioner preparation. Over time, ducts can develop gaps or become blocked by debris. Unsealed ducts and river-like systems of ductwork can lose as much as 30 percent of the air you pay to cool. That air is not coming back to the machine in the high side of the loop as it should, so the machine has to work harder to circulate that cool air. The problem shows up as higher energy bills, a system that sounds like it's working overtime (and can overheat), and uneven cooling throughout your home.
There are several things you should do, and have done, to make sure your ductwork is in tip-top shape for summer cooling. First, take a good look at the ducts you can see. Then have someone check the ducts you can't see without getting into the attic or crawling space. Once you do that, clean the ducts out, and then seal them. Don’t forget to look at the outdoor unit and the area around it.
The preventive maintenance of your air conditioning unit is critical. It's the only way to ensure that the lifespan of the unit is extended; otherwise, you run the risk of having the entire system break down, which can often lead to costly repairs. Think of it this way: it's better to tighten a few screws now than to replace the whole assembly later. And when efficiency and minor issues are at stake, the job of maintenance becomes all the more serious. Now, when maintenance is mentioned, most people think of the phrase "heating, ventilation, and air conditioning," or H-VAC. But when you think about it, there are only a few things that maintenance can do with an air conditioning unit. That's because the air conditioning unit is a pretty simple machine.