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When summer rolls around in Arlington, TX, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of being able to crank on your AC and cool down. The problem is, a lot of homeowners don’t take the time to take care of their AC during the offseason to make sure it’s ready for summer. Regular AC maintenance is an important part of this process, but you also need to have AC repairs done when you need them. Check out these great tips to make sure your AC is ready when spring and summer come back around.
Seasonal Maintenance
As a homeowner, the most important thing you can do to make your HVAC system stay in good shape is have seasonal maintenance done every year. Seasonal maintenance isn’t just a good way to avoid the cost of repairs, it’s also a great way to make sure your AC lasts as long as possible. Plus, it only takes a little bit of time a couple times a year to make sure your HVAC system stays in great shape.
As far as a schedule goes, you should have seasonal maintenance done by an AC repair expert twice every year. It’s important to have this maintenance done during the off seasons for heating and cooling, which are spring and fall. Having your HVAC system inspected and maintained during these seasons prevents downtime when you need heating and cooling and ensures they’re ready for the summer and winter.
Make sure you’re having seasonal maintenance done by a certified professional if you want the best results. The better care you take of your HVAC system twice a year, the longer it will last and better it will perform.
Change Your Air Filter
One thing you have to think about if you want to take good care of your AC and make sure it’s ready for summer is how often you’re changing your air filter. Even if you’re not having maintenance done, you need to have an AC repair company replace your air filter on a regular basis to keep things running right and promote good indoor air quality.
You should change your air filter at least once every 6 months or so, although that depends heavily on your situation. A single-person household that’s smaller and generally clean doesn’t need its air filter replaced nearly as often as a household with several kids and pets. If you live with other people, you should change your air filter once every three months. For larger households with animals and children, you might want to change your air filter as often as once a month.
AC Repairs
When it comes to getting your AC ready for the summer, you also need to make sure you’re getting repairs done in a timely manner. As tempting as it may be to put off spending money on fixing your AC, spending a little bit of money now can save you a ton of money in the future. Investing a little bit of money in AC repairs can prevent major problems that will end up costing a lot more.
Your job as a homeowner is to keep a close eye on your HVAC system and report any issues you might spot to a professional. If you notice your AC making a strange noise or you water leaking, you need to have somebody look at that problem and get it fixed as soon as you can. The sooner you get your AC fixed, the less you have to worry about spending a fortune on major repairs or replacing your AC.
Clean Your AC
One great thing you can do to prepare your AC for the summer is make sure the unit and the area around it is clean. Leaves and other debris building up around your AC can impede airflow and cause problems with your air conditioning. Simple sweeping the area around your outdoor AC unit can prevent this problem.
Of course, you should also make sure you’re having your AC thoroughly cleaned by an AC repair expert every once in a while. Not only do you need to make sure leaves, dirt and debris are out of the way, sometimes you need to have internal components cleaned to prevent problems down the road. In addition to scheduling seasonal maintenance, you might want to have an AC repair company clean up your furnace and AC every once in a while.
Test Early
The last thing you want is to turn on your AC for the first time in the summer and realize it’s not working. The best thing you can do if you want to beat Arlington, TX, heat during the summer is turn your AC on for a test run during the spring. If you notice a problem during the test run, you can have that problem fixed in time to use your AC during the summer.
When testing your AC, make sure you look for any strange sounds, smells or problems with cooling power. If your AC is making a strange noise or there’s a bad smell as soon as you turn the unit on, chances are you need some kind of AC repair.
Here to Help
You need a helping hand when it comes to keeping your HVAC system in great shape, so you need to find an AC repair company you can count on. Whether you need a little bit of seasonal maintenance, repairs or a brand new AC, you can count on Minuteman Heating and Air to take care of everything. When it comes to getting your AC ready for the summer and preparing your home for the heat, we’ve got you covered. Give us at Minuteman Heating and Air a call today to schedule an appointment to have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned.