The dog days of summer are right around the corner, and with them will come the sweltering temperatures of summertime. Before the heat rolls in, it’s a good idea to make sure that your central air conditioner is ready and up to the challenge of cooling your home throughout the season. The last thing you want is for your air conditioner to break down at the peak of the summer, so it’s a good idea to schedule your regular residential HVAC service before you switch over to air conditioning for the summer season.
If you have a whole-house humidifier, it’s important to turn it off before you switch over to A/C. The humidifier will add moisture to the already-humid air in your home, which can make your air conditioner work harder to keep the house comfortable. Air filters need to be replaced to ensure the best possible air quality and peak energy efficiency, and the batteries in your thermostat replaced if necessary. Make sure that your air conditioner cover is removed to prevent overheating, as forgetting to remove it will restrict the airflow into your unit’s condenser.
While you can complete many of these tasks on your own, it’s important to schedule a routine inspection before the air conditioner season starts to make sure that everything is in proper working order and not likely to cause problems over the course of the summer. A licensed and experienced HVAC professional should inspect your air conditioner thoroughly, and give your system a tune-up before the season begins. Annual tune-ups can increase the efficiency of your air conditioning unit, paying for themselves in terms of money saved over the course of the summer on energy bills.
