Your air conditioner will work best during the scorching summer months if appropriately maintained. This includes maintaining the ductwork, vents, coils, fins and condensers. If proper maintenance is done, there is a good chance your air conditioner will keep you comfortable during summer.
Ensure the Filter Gets Changed
Make sure to change your air conditioner’s filter regularly, regardless of its type. Professional HVAC maintenance typically includes this task as one of the final steps.
Your air conditioner’s filter plays a crucial role in preventing airborne pollutants from circulating in your home and maintaining the unit’s proper function.
As particulates accumulate in the filter over time, it becomes necessary to replace it. A good rule of thumb is to change the filter when it becomes opaque and doesn’t allow light to pass through. Your HVAC technician can assist you in choosing the most suitable filter type whether it’s fiberglass, HEPA, pleated or washable.
Failure to change the air conditioner’s filter regularly can lead to increased energy bills, as dirt and debris obstruct the unit and cause it to work harder, thus consuming more energy. A dirty filter forces the air conditioner to exert more effort to cool your home, resulting in uneven cooling and temperature variations between rooms.
Neglecting to change the air conditioner’s filter can also pose health risks to you and your family. A clogged filter allows contaminants to circulate freely in your home, potentially causing headaches, eye irritation, dizziness and throat discomfort in the summer. Long-term consequences may include respiratory infections and cardiovascular issues.
Similar to other household appliances, your air conditioner requires regular servicing. Contact the HVAC technicians at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical to inspect your unit and provide recommendations on the frequency of filter changes and the most suitable filter(s) for your specific air conditioner.
Ensure the Technician Cleans the Inside of the Unit
Keeping the inside of the unit clean is essential to guarantee optimal air conditioner performance, especially during the hot summer months. Leave this task to your HVAC technician during their annual maintenance check.
After confirming that the circuit breaker connected to your AC system is switched off, the HVAC technician will clean the evaporator coil, removing any dirt buildup using specialized cleaners and tools. Additionally, they will clear any debris accumulated in the drain pan and drain pipe to prevent potential leaks during the summer.
A dirty evaporator coil can result in insufficient cooling during hot summers; the dirt forms a barrier between the air and the coil’s metal surface, hindering heat transfer from inside your home to the outdoors.
Failure to clean the inside of your unit may cause the air conditioner to cycle constantly as it struggles to reach the temperature set by the thermostat. The dirtier the coil, the longer the cooling cycle will be, increasing energy consumption.
Moreover, a dirty evaporator coil can freeze due to inadequate heat absorption, resulting in condensation buildup and ice formation. This can ultimately damage your air conditioner, necessitating costly repairs or a complete replacement.
Straighten Out the Fins
The condenser of your air conditioner features fins, as does the evaporator. These fins play a crucial role in facilitating the smooth flow of air in and out of the air conditioner.
The compressor fins, located on the outdoor unit of your air conditioner, resemble a grill with metal fins. These fins aid in the efficient dissipation of heat from the air conditioner, promoting quicker dispersal.
Similarly, the evaporator fins on the evaporator unit contribute to heat extraction from the air, enhancing the thermal energy exchange process within your air conditioner. As air passes over the evaporator fins, it’s cooled before being distributed through the ducts and vents into your home.
These fins are thin and delicate, susceptible to bending or clogging with dirt and debris. Despite being careful around your air conditioner, it’s easy for these fins to become bent or obstructed. This leads to significant airflow restriction within the AC system, reducing efficiency and necessitating increased workload to cool the air. Consequently, during sweltering summers, your utility costs may rise, and the air conditioner may experience more frequent breakdowns due to overuse.
During your annual HVAC maintenance, discuss with your technician the importance of cleaning clogged air conditioner fins and repairing bent fins to ensure maximum efficiency.
Keep the Area Around the Outdoor Unit Clean
You can contribute to maintaining the smooth operation of your air conditioner by clearing the area around the outdoor unit. This involves ensuring that any bushes or tree branches are kept at least a couple of feet away from the outdoor unit. If you notice any encroachment on the outdoor part of your air conditioner, trim them back accordingly. Maintaining a continuous free flow of air through the unit is crucial to facilitate effective heat transfer.
Change the Mode and Temperature
Flip the switch on your air conditioner to cooling mode before the hot summer arrives. This might seem like a no-brainer, but the number of people who call an HVAC technician saying that their air conditioner is not working is surprising, only to have the technician arrive and tell them it’s because the thermostat is set for heat.
Get the Ductwork and Coolant Lines Checked
If your home has a forced air heating system, you will likely share the ductwork with your central air conditioner. Periodically, do a quick check to ensure that there are no holes or openings in the ductwork and that each seal is intact. During your HVAC inspection, your technician will review the ductwork to ensure that everything is up to spec, and if not, give you options on how to get things working as they should.
Additionally, you want your technicians to check the refrigerant lines. These tubes come from the condenser to inside the house. They should be completely covered with insulation. If they’re not or if they are damaged, your air conditioner will not work efficiently. Talk to your HVAC technician about the best way of ensuring that these lines are properly insulated.
Get the Right Size Unit For Your Home and Weather Conditions
When selecting an air conditioner, aim for a Goldilocks approach: not too big or small, but just right. An oversized air conditioner will constantly short cycle, failing to cool your home while wasting energy adequately. Conversely, an undersized unit will need help to meet your cooling needs, especially during sweltering summers.
Discuss various factors with your HVAC technician, such as your home’s square footage, layout and required BTU capacity, to determine the ideal size for your air conditioner. Generally, for areas ranging from 100 to 150 square feet, around 3,000 to 5,050 BTUs are needed. However, for larger areas between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet, the required BTUs increase to 52,000 and 70,000, respectively.
Other considerations, such as sunlight exposure and occupancy levels, also influence the appropriate air conditioner size. Sunny areas or spaces with many occupants may necessitate a larger unit. The technicians at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical will guide you through these factors, ensuring you select the right-sized air conditioner to keep your home comfortably cool regardless of outdoor temperatures.
Expert HVAC and Plumbing Services in Camp Verde, AZ
At Goettl's High Desert Mechanical, we have provided our neighbors with expert HVAC and plumbing services since 1987. For more than 30 years, our family-oriented business has been customer-driven and constantly striving to improve our skill set. For us, settling on anything but the best is not an option.
Our services include HVAC installation, maintenance and repair. We install boilers and offer geothermal heating. Our plumbing services include general repair, water heater installation, water softener installation and more. Contact Goettl's High Desert Mechanical today, and see what it’s like to work with a company that settles for nothing but the best.
