Here’s what a local service pro had to say about proper A/C maintenance.
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Summer heat is knocking at our door—is your A/C unit ready? I’m joined by Neil Carr from Prime Heating & Air to help homeowners get prepared.
Always check your air filter as you begin to operate your A/C system to make sure you’re getting good airflow on your furnace or air handler inside the house. How often do you need to change these filters? Well, Neil says that they need to at least be checked every 30 to 40 days, and then changed as needed. How do you know when it’s needed, though?
Secondly, you must keep your outdoor unit clean. If you haven’t done so yet this year, do so before the weather really starts sizzling. A good maintenance company will clean the outdoor coil, freeing it from any debris that has built up over the winter. They will also clean the inside of the condenser, removing any leaves or helicopter seeds. It’s important to get this work done sooner than later because your unit hasn’t been running all winter long; due to simple complications, the inside compressor could suddenly become overworked when you start it up, and more damage will be done then, leading to more expensive repairs.
Third, it’s important to maintain a two-foot clearance around the outside unit—no bushes, shrubs, branches, etc. should be too close to it. Again, it’s all about maximizing your unit’s airflow from the sides as well as the top. Make sure the mulch you’ve been adding to your garden year after year doesn’t reach the bottom of your unit and plug it up.
Always check your air filter as you begin to operate your A/C system to make sure you’re getting good airflow on your furnace or air handler inside the house. How often do you need to change these filters? Well, Neil says that they need to at least be checked every 30 to 40 days, and then changed as needed. How do you know when it’s needed, though?
Brand-new air filters are crispy-clean white and turn brown with use. If you have pets and heavy outdoor elements like cottonwoods, you’ll start to see hair and residue plastered down along the side of the browned filter—that’s your sign to change it out.
"Your filters need to be checked every 30 to 40 days."
Third, it’s important to maintain a two-foot clearance around the outside unit—no bushes, shrubs, branches, etc. should be too close to it. Again, it’s all about maximizing your unit’s airflow from the sides as well as the top. Make sure the mulch you’ve been adding to your garden year after year doesn’t reach the bottom of your unit and plug it up.
Be careful when cleaning it yourself. If you just hose your outside unit down, the pressure may be too much, and that may bend some of the fins on the side. The best way to handle the care of your unit is to set up a maintenance schedule with a reputable company. Prime Heating & Air, for example, offers one-, two-, and three-year maintenance agreements where they’ll come out and perform all the necessary cleaning and inspections needed to keep your air conditioning functioning at peak efficiency.
According to Neil, you’ll want to wait until the weather starts hitting a consistent 60 degrees before you start testing your unit (usually April or May, depending on the year). If it’s in the mid-40s in March, it’s best to wait for at least another month or so—around 60 degrees is when you’re able to get good, reliable readings.
Lastly, make sure you get your indoor coil—the one that sits atop your furnace—cleaned as well. A technician will be able to spray a special disinfectant that takes care of mildew, fungus, and debris. Every homeowner wants only the cleanest air distributing throughout their home!
If you’re interested in setting up a maintenance plan with Neil Carr and the professionals over at Prime Heating & Air, give them a call at 315-802-4287 or visit www.primeheatandair.com. For your real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me by phone or email. We at the Chip Hodgkins Team are here to be your community resource.
