Keep Your Temperature and A/C Costs Down This Summer

June 25, 2013

As summer heats up, my husband becomes very popular with the neighbors.  He’s known as “Mr. Fix It” when it comes to their air conditioning units, and his two decades in the HVAC industry has kept both the temperature and the cost down for several of our streetmates.  He’s always willing to take time to help out, even though the phone or doorbell rings just as we are getting ready to head out for our own summer fun.  Here are his tips to keep your air conditioner running:

1.  Cut back bushes and trees and clean out any leaves and debris so your outside unit can breathe, allowing it to easily pull in fresh air over the coil to help the equipment be more efficient.

2.   Make sure all internal wiring shows no signs of corrosion and all terminals are tight to ensure the electrical components are operating properly.

3.  Wash your outside unit to clean dirt off the outside coils that can impact heat transfer.

4.  Check your condensate line for any blockage, which could cause flooding if it gets clogged up.

5. Change the air filter at least every quarter, to keep the evaporator coil clean.

If you aren’t very handy or you aren’t my neighbor, consider a preventative maintenance contract with a local HVAC company.  A “PM” agreement will provide an inspection and any needed maintenance to keep your AC running cold.  To find a qualified contractor, follow these tips from NATE, the certification organization for North American Technician Excellence.  An annual contract for maintenance should run no more than a few hundred dollars and can save you the hassle of having to replace a $1,000 air compressor, an $800 coil, or even worse, the whole A/C unit inside and out, which can cost upwards of several thousand dollars.