Summer’s almost here, and it’s comin’ in hot. But you might not want to turn on your air conditioner just yet—if it’s been idle for several months, it’s probably not in mid-season form. Consider soft-launching your A/C with these simple tricks.
1. Run the Fan
Your air conditioner is out of service during the winter, which can lead to a buildup of dust and debris in the unit. We recommend easing back into things by running your A/C in fan mode before turning it on full-blast. Open the windows. Leave the house. Then crank your system for about 10 to 20 minutes. That allows the fan to clear out some of the debris without you having to breathe it in.
2. Change Your Filters
Change your filters, change your filters, change your filters! The air filter in your A/C unit catches lots of gross stuff like dust, pet dander, and pollen so it doesn’t get blown all throughout your house. But if it’s completely caked in debris, it can’t do its job properly. A clogged filter can also end up attracting mold (not great for respiratory health) and overworking your system (not great for HVAC health…or wallet health). Changing your air filter before you turn your A/C on for the season is a great way to set your HVAC system up for success.
3. Check Your Coils
Your air conditioner has two different coils: an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. We won’t go into the nitty-gritty of what they’re for in this article—the important thing is to make sure they’re both in working order, otherwise you’ll end up with serious issues. A particularly cold winter can freeze those coils, damage them, and stop your A/C in its tracks. So, get an experienced HVAC tech to make sure your coils are up to par before you turn your unit on and risk more serious damage.
4. Check Your Fluids
Your A/C unit relies on a couple different fluids for it to work. The first is the refrigerant that cools the air. The second is the fluid that lubricates the rest of the elements. Unfortunately, those can also freeze during the winter and lose some of their impact. That’s why it’s always a great idea to have someone take a look and verify your fluids are good to go.
5. Schedule a Clean & Check with Appel
Summer is in the air. You want your air conditioner in top form. And now’s the perfect time for a little tune-up. If you’re a do-it-yourself-er, you can use this article as a checklist. But if you’re short on time and know-how, give us a call! We’ll come out and make sure everything’s…cool. (Don’t worry, we’ll leave the A/C puns at the shop.)