DIY Spring Air Conditioner Tune Up

Spring is in the air, but summer is coming soon. Is your air conditioning system ready to handle whatever summer dishes out? Don’t forget your air conditioning system in your spring cleaning. This is the time of year to troubleshoot any problems before you’re left out in the…heat.

Here are My Heating And Cooling Guy’s top tips for an air conditioner tune up to get you ready for summer. These are simple tips anyone can do. But for a thorough tune up and service inspection, be sure to call us for a quote. Remember, air conditioners use enough electricity to cause serious harm and injury so be careful. Or better yet, let us handle the work for you!

**Air conditioners have two units – an indoor unit that located near your furnace and an outdoor unit (this does not apply to window units). If you have disconnected power to your air conditioner over the winter, don’t start up the unit immediately. Let the outdoor unit sit for 24 hours plugged in without turning it on – this will cause less stress to the motor and other components.

• Inspect your furnace filter and change if necessary. Make sure to turn the furnace off first to avoid blowing dust throughout your house. Filters should be changed regularly, but changing it every spring is a good practice.
• Clear any debris that may have collected around the air conditioner. Leaves and sticks left over from winter may have gotten in there. Sometimes grass clippings from the lawn mower or dandelions are common. This improves the efficiency of the unit.
• Trim the grass and garden back from the air conditioner unit so that all air intakes and exhausts are free of obstructions. The goal is to ensure there is plenty of air circulation around the unit.
• Take the cover off the outdoor air conditioning unit (before you turn it on). Forgetting to do this can lead to costly but avoidable repairs.
• Inspect the insulation around the unit for damage. Replace as needed.
• Check the concrete beneath the air conditioner unit for cracks or shifts in the earth beneath the pad. As the ground freezes and thaws it can shift. You want to make sure the air conditioner is sitting on level ground.
• Turn on the air conditioner and let it run for a bit. Listen for any noise that might warn of a repair. Is the house cooled evenly or are there warm spots? Sometimes dealing with these issues right away prevents a more costly repair down the road.
• Spring is a great time to clean out the floor vents.
• If you have an older air conditioner, spring is a great time to consider investing in a newer model. New technology means air conditioners are quieter, more efficient, and use less energy than older models. You may even save enough on the energy savings to pay for the new unit within three or four years.

If you work through these steps and find a problem or just want a more thorough tune up, we offer comprehensive air conditioner maintenance and repair. We’ll inspect all moving parts, filters, and valve connections so you stay cool all summer long!

The experts at My Heating and Cooling Guy service all parts of Middlesex, Huron and Perth counties. Contact us for a free in-home, no obligation quote for all your heating and cooling needs.