When summer draws near and the Henderson heat intensifies, it becomes critical to make sure that your air conditioning system is prepped and ready to keep you comfortable through what's often the most sweltering stretch of the yearly calendar. Living in a desert climate, an efficient AC unit isn't just a luxury; it's practically an expectation. That's why the first step in A/C prep is something that a lot of people might not think about until the system suddenly wheezes to life: an inspection. And who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters. We're talking about a professional technician with the know-how, the really useful kind of "know-how," to spot potentially serious issues—like excessive wear and tear on crucial components and near-constant low refrigerant levels—that, if left unchecked, could result in a system that simply doesn't work when summer Wright's hottest stretches roll around.
Besides having professionals maintain your air conditioning system, you need to clean it as part of your summer preparation. Dust and debris can gather in your HVAC system and reduce its operating efficiency—if not, it could even spread allergens around your home. Cleaning air filters is a simple enough task, but it makes a huge difference in both the system's air quality and its performance. And that goes for the outdoor unit as well; it should be inspected and cleaned of any grime that might be affecting the airflow. Meanwhile, the vents inside your home should also be checked and cleaned. Not only does a clean system cool better, but it also lasts longer.
Getting ready for summer and the inevitable heat in Henderson means preparing your AC unit; however, there are also some relatively easy things to do around the house to minimize the heat that enters, thereby lessening the demand on the AC.
In the first place, what do you think about the AC itself? Is it relatively new? If not, the AC might be part of the problem. If it is, then it probably shouldn’t be working too hard. What if we went inside (the house) and came back out with a few ideas for making the place more energy efficient? That might start with windows—installing reflective window film to reduce the amount of heat coming through—or it might involve considering some shading devices to reduce the amount of light (and thus heat) coming through the windows that is not coming through the doors.