Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to get your central air conditioning system and central air conditioner condenser unit primed to keep the A/C in your house circulating cool air all summer long. Your friends at Stashluk would like to share a few simple do-it-yourself (DIY) tips that can help central air conditioner performance and efficiency; such as changing air filters, replacing thermostat batteries and cleaning debris from your exterior condenser unit. These easy maintenance tips can make all the difference in the operation of your home’s central air conditioning and can avoid air conditioning repair in the future.
Here are 4 easy care tips for maintaining your central air conditioning:
1. Change the air conditioning air filter.
Your air conditioning system’s air filter keeps your air ducts clean and is your first defense against circulating dust, pet hair, cigarette smoke, dirt and airborne particles which can not only clog the fan but make you and any members of your family with allergies miserable. In fact, changing the air filter is one of the most important central air conditioning maintenance tasks you can do by yourself and it couldn’t be any easier.
- Locate the slot or space where the filter is positioned, which can be either on a wall or ceiling behind the return air grille in a central area of the house, on the top, side or bottom of your furnace, or inside the blower compartment of the air handler or furnace.
- Replace the old filter with a new filter of the same size and you’re done.
A clean filter can improve the performance of your air conditioning system and save you money on your utility bills.
The Environmental Protection Agency states that regular filter changes can cut 5% – 10% off your energy bill every month!
There are several types of filters that are available from economy air filters which will need to be changed more often, to HEPA filters which are highly efficient but come at a price. Your Stashluk service person will be happy to recommend a filter style that’s right for your central air conditioner unit(s).
2. Check your HVAC thermostat batteries.
Spring is also a smart time to check the programmable or smart thermostats in your home and replace any batteries that are low on power. Sometimes finding the slot for the battery is the most difficult part of this maintenance effort! If you run into a problem, check the manufacturer’s website.
If you have an older non-programmable thermostat, now is a good time to swap it out for a modern programmable thermostat or smart thermostat. These can pay for themselves rather quickly by monitoring the heat and air conditioning temperatures in your home based on your lifestyle throughout the year.
3. Set the thermostat to cool mode and check the temperature.
Before the mercury outside rises you want to be sure your central air conditioning system is going to cool your home and not just blow warm air. Set the temperature lower than the room temperature and make sure the thermostat is set to cool. This will start up the unit so you can check that it is indeed circulating cool air. Allow it to run for a couple of minutes to make sure that any warm air that may have been sitting in the ducts has been circulated out. If the air coming from your vents is cool you should be in good shape.
4. Inspect your outdoor air conditioning unit.
Your outdoor air conditioning unit is exposed to the elements all year long. It needs a good cleaning every year to make sure that it’s ready to serve your home for the coming warm season.
Before cleaning or working with your outdoor air conditioning unit, make sure you turn off power at either the outside service disconnect or the main breaker panel of your home to avoid electric shock.
- Turn the power off of your outside unit
- Clear away any debris or vegetation such as grass and weeds that are encroaching on the unit. Anything that can obstruct airflow to the unit will tax the operation of the condenser and make it more costly to run. This should be done throughout the growing season as shrubs, trees and other vegetation near the unit grow and crowd the free flow of air to the A/C unit.
- Gently wash off the exterior of the unit with a hose and clear any debris that has fallen into the unit or is lodged in its grille. Never use a power-washer.
- Do a visual inspection: Check for signs of overheating, such as blackened wires or melted insulation on wires and frayed wires. The fan blade should also be checked for any dents or other damage that may have happened to it during the fall and winter. Call Stashluk immediately for a complete assessment and inspection if you see any visual damage to your outside unit.
If you are a New Jersey homeowner in need of help with your spring air conditioning start up, especially when it comes to shutting off circuit breakers and accessing your central air conditioning operations inside or outside of your home, call Stashluk.
Our air conditioning repair service person will see to it that the job is done right. Ask us about our annual safety Checks and we’ll take care of routine maintenance so you never have to ‘sweat it’ again. Call us at 908-277-6200 or email info@stashluk.com and learn more about our annual safety checks here.
