Getting Ready To Turn On The AC? Do These 4 Things
When the weather outside starts getting warm again, there will be a day that you feel the need to switch on the air conditioner after its long winter slumber. Before you flip the switch from heating to cooling, there are a few things you'll need to take care of.
Clean Your Furnace
With the furnace being off for quite some time, chances are that dust has collected in the unit. When you turn the air conditioner on, it could potentially move that dust all throughout your home. That's why it's a good idea to use your vacuum to clean out the dust in the furnace.
A common problem is that the evaporator coil can be covered with dust, so the unit will have to work harder than normal to cool down the air. The furnace will run longer to cool off your home, wasting more energy in the process. A simple cleaning of the parts inside near the blower should do the trick.
While you are in the furnace, inspect items like the belt that turns the blower to ensure that everything is working.
Change Your Air Filters
Now is also a good time to change the filters on the furnace. While you should be doing this regularly, it's a good habit to change the filters before you start up the unit for the summer. It's just one more step that will help reduce contaminants circulating in the air once the unit is running.
Remove The Weatherization
Your air conditioner's condenser may be tucked away on the side of your home, so it is out of sight and out of mind. You need to be sure that you've removed any covers that you placed over the condenser to keep it clean during the winter. Forgetting to do so could cause damage by overheating the unit.
While you are removing the cover, you should inspect for bent fins that can cause airflow to be disrupted to the condenser.
Get The Vents Ready
You may have made some modifications to the ductwork during the winter, such as closing off heat to certain rooms of the house. This can not only be done at the vent in each room, but there are typically dampeners within the ductwork that are accessible from your basement. Verify that all of the rooms in your home will be receiving cool air.
Of course, you can always have an air conditioner inspection done for you by a professional to take care of these things for you. For more information, contact local professionals like Allzone Air Conditioning & Heating Corp.
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