In a couple of months the cooling season will once again be upon us and the professionals at D & W Heating & Air Conditioning advise people with central air conditioning need to think about what kind of shape their cooling system is in. There are some things homeowners can do to keep systems operating smoothly, but it helps to have a yearly inspection and servicing by a qualified heating and air conditioning technician.
Tips to Keep Your HVAC System Running
- When using central air conditioning, your windows should be kept in sealed mode and where necessary provide weather stripping around doors and windows.
- Extra insulation in attics and outside walls will reduce cooling costs. Your air-conditioning system is working to cool the air in your house. The less hot air that creeps in from outside, the less work it has to do.
- Shade windows that are hit directly by the sun. Using energy-blocking glass in the south and east windows is also a good idea.
- When you turn on your air conditioner, start with a thermostat setting of about 78 degrees, which may be a little warmer than you’re used to. Using ceiling fans in conjunction with air conditioners makes rooms more comfortable so you can maintain a higher thermostat setting.
The professionals at D & W Heating & Air Conditioning know homeowners occasionally do things that limit the efficiency of their central air conditioning or lead to unneeded service calls.
Be Conscious of Your Condenser
A big mistake is failing to keep the area around the condenser clear. The condenser is that rounded or square unit about three feet high that sits near the house. Air conditioning works in effect by drawing heat out of indoor air by passing it over coils and transferring that heat to the condenser outside. Air must circulate freely around and through the condenser to carry away the waste heat.
D & W Heating & Air Conditioning techs say keep the grass clipped nearby and don’t let weeds or bushes grow alongside the condenser. Brush away any fallen leaves or other debris that might have blown against the unit. residents have called us to perform emergency services when their systems failed to come on as expected. In some cases, the problem was a circuit breaker that had been turned off or failed to switch the thermostat from the heat to the cooling setting.
Some do-it-yourselfers may be able to do the maintenance on their own, but it’s not a job that should be taken on lightly. Air conditioning systems run on high-voltage circuits, and the chances of accidental electrocution are higher than with other households' electrical work.
What a Technician Will Check
A certified technician from D & W Heating & Air Conditioning will check refrigerant pressure levels and check electrical connections. He will also check the condition of the coils on the outside condenser and clean them if necessary. Inside the house, the technician will check and clean the evaporator coils. The blower and blower motor should be inspected, cleaned and, if necessary, lubricated.
Air conditioning systems have moisture collectors to carry away the water the system pulls out of the air as the air is cooled. The D & W Heating & Air Conditioning service technician check the collection systems and drains to be sure they don’t become clogged.
If you would like to know more about air conditioning in or the servicing and repair of your central air conditioning systems or if you are having a problem with yours and would like a free estimate, please call the professionals, D & W Heating & Air Conditioning at (941) 479-9889.