In Port St. Lucie, FL, summer evokes images of swimming, barbecues, and relaxing in the sun. However, the fun can end fast if you don’t have an efficient air conditioning system to keep you cool when the temperatures become uncomfortable.
You need to be proactive to ensure you have an AC unit ready for the summer months.
The heating and air conditioning service by Hawk Air and Mechanical in Port Saint Lucie covers all bases, including maintenance and summer preparation. Below is a few tips for how to get your AC ready for summer based on our years of experience.
Clean the Air Filters
Air filters play an important role in any air conditioning system. They keep out dust and dirt, keeping the indoor air contaminant-free.
However, most filters get clogged after six to eight weeks of consistent usage. Therefore, you need to clean them before the summer months arrive if you haven’t cleaned them in a while. Cleaning your AC filters doesn’t just increase the unit’s efficiency; it also improves the lifespan.
For the best results, clean the dust and debris in the air filters carefully using warm running water.
Clear Debris in the Outdoor Unit
The outdoor units for air conditioners get dirty quickly as obstructions pile in. Dead leaves and other types of debris tend to find their way to the unit. Ignored long enough, the blockage will make the AC work harder to keep you cool—sometimes failing at it.
The blockage will also cause high energy usage. If the system works through the summer months in that condition, you may see parts like solenoids failing.
Electrical fires may also occur. Clear out the outdoor unit using a low-pressure water hose. Be sure to get rid of caked-on dirt, twigs, leaves, plastic, and any other debris.
Clean the Vents
Cleaning your air vents is important to maintain airflow and ensure cooling efficiency. Check the vents in each room, and clean them out to ensure there’s no blockage. Watch for accidental obstructions such as drapes, rugs, and more.
Blocked vents upset the duct pressure balance. In that scenario, cool air will leak into the underflooring or the attic, wasting energy. The AC has to work harder in that situation due to the added pressure, increasing the risk of breakdowns.
Clear the Drain Line
Your AC unit generates more condensation in the summer months. The excess condensation evaporates outdoors—unless you have a clogged drain line. A backed-up drain line leads to water collecting inside your AC closet.
During your pre-summer maintenance, you should check the drain line to ensure no leaves and mud are blocking it. You can clear the clogs on the outside and inside drain pipes using a wet-dry vacuum.
Check the Refrigerant Level
You don’t have to wait for an HVAC professional to check your refrigerant level. You can check it on your own by touching the bigger of the two copper pipes in your outside condenser unit. The pipe has insulation, but it should still feel cold to the touch.
Where that isn’t the case, it’s running low on coolant. We don’t recommend changing the refrigerant as a DIY job. It’s best to call an HVAC professional if you suspect low refrigerant levels.
Change the AC Remote Batteries
The AA or AAA batteries in the remote-controlled air conditioners last a long time, so it’s easy to forget them. Batteries don’t come to your mind when you’re thinking about how to get your ac ready for summer. However, waking up in the middle of the night to ransack the garage looking for batteries is no fun.
Therefore, it’s best to swap them out before every summer. With the remote working well, you can change the temperature setting, select the proper mode for the air conditioner, and more.
Similarly, you need to check your thermostat to ensure it’s responsive. Switch it to cool and take note of the temperature change in your home. If you aren’t satisfied, call a professional to troubleshoot the problem.
Plug Any Insulation Gaps
This maintenance doesn’t involve the air conditioner directly, but any unit working in a poorly insulated space will work too hard. Such units may break down during the summer. Check your insulation in the different rooms to ensure they are leak proof.
Attic entryways, doorways, and window frames are some of the most common sights of insulation gaps. Seal off any gaps with rubber flaps, caulking, fiber batts, and other insulation materials to keep the cool air indoors.
Consider Replacement Parts or a New Unit
Sometimes your air conditioner is just too old. These units have a lifespan, and a unit working without regular maintenance for the last seven years already has many underlying problems. It will break down one day—it’s only a matter of time.
Maintenance and parts replacement can delay the inevitable, but it’s best to switch to a new unit in many cases. Depending on the age of your current system, switching to a new and more efficient unit can reduce your summer utility bills by 10-40%.
Book an appointment with an HVAC professional to find the perfect replacement unit for your home.
Let’s Prepare Your AC For the Summer Months
An unresponsive air conditioning unit is one of the worst things you can experience on a hot and humid summer day. Your system sitting idle for half a year doesn’t mean it’s ready to go again once summer rolls around.
You need pre-summer maintenance to ensure it’s in good shape. Importantly, you need to complete the maintenance well in advance of summer. HVAC technicians get too busy if you wait until the peak of summer.
At Hawk Air and Mechanical, we handle AC maintenance, pre-summer tune-ups, replacements, and installation. We have years of experience providing homeowners and businesses with efficient and functional cooling systems.
Call Hawk Air and Mechanical in Port St. Lucie, FL, at +1 772-773-1667 to discuss how to get your AC ready for summer. Explore our blog to learn more about AC maintenance.