Maintaining Your Home's Air Conditioning System

These simple steps will make maintaining your home's A/C easy. And it might save you a lot of money down the road.
Air conditioner unit outside a house

As the brutal heat of summer begins to set in, it's important to know that you and your family can stay comfortable inside your home. In some cases, the heat may actually rise to a level that threatens your health, so maintaining your air conditioning system isn't simply a matter of convenience. Learning about how it operates and what you can do to keep it in order is a vital task.

Below, you'll find a guide to some tips for maintaining your home's air conditioning system. Though professional assistance and a reliable repair may be just a phone call away, committing to the proper preparation can allow you to avoid those uncomfortable intervals where you may be desperate for relief.

It's often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so following these preventative steps can be a great way to remove a huge weight from your shoulders. By moving these things to the top of your to-do list, you can have the comfort of knowing your system will always deliver the performance you require.

Seal Maintenance

One of the most important things you can do to avoid mechanical breakdowns is to put the least amount of strain possible on your air conditioner. If your home is leaky or drafty, it might be difficult for your HVAC system to hold a steady temperature, and the stress on your system is likely to go up as a result.

Make sure that you check the seals around your windows and doors to make sure they remain airtight. If you notice drafts coming in from outside, that means your treated air is escaping in the other direction. This can push your air conditioner beyond its intended workload and can leave you with a breakdown that might occur simply because you weren't vigilant about maintaining and replacing your seals.

Condenser cleaning

Any mechanical component that gets bogged down is dust, dirt, or even plant life may struggle to function at its highest efficiency. Unfortunately, many home air conditioning systems require the condenser to be located outside, making it difficult to keep it clean and clear of contaminants.

As part of your yard maintenance, take time to inspect your condenser and clean it thoroughly. Make sure it rests on a concrete pad if at all possible to keep it from invasive plants and grass. When you're doing the aforementioned yard work, take special care to direct lawn clippings away from where the condenser sits.

It might not be possible to keep your condenser completely clean, but keeping an eye on it can improve your air quality and flow and help guarantee that it doesn't overheat. A broken down condenser may require a substantial repair, so staying vigilant should be at the top of your list of priorities.

Consistent temperature settings

Everyone has heard the horror stories about the family that's constantly squabbling over the right setting on the thermostat, but if that's a reality of your life, you should be aware that you could be doing yourself a serious disservice. Constantly changing the temperature setting can put substantial mechanical stress on your blower motor and other vital components, along with using a lot of energy and causing inconsistent temperature readings.

Picking one comfortable temperature that everyone can agree on and settling on it is a much better way to operate your HVAC system. However, if you've followed all of these instructions and still find yourself in need of assistance, the experienced professionals at Edge Guys HVAC will be able to fulfill your needs. Our cooling services can return you to comfort and guarantee that you always have the performance you desire.