Heading into summer, you need a strong and reliable air conditioner that keeps your coastal home cool and comfortable. This system works hard to battle the high temperatures and humidity that come with living in the Charleston area.
Keeping it healthy takes a few extra steps, but in the end, they are worth it so that you can count on your system all summer long and for the next several years. Let’s dive in and learn about some things you can do to keep your AC running smoothly this summer.
Change Air Filter
Your air conditioner has an air filter that filters contaminants from the air that comes into the system. This filter can become dirty and clogged if not changed regularly. When this happens, your AC may struggle to force air into the ducts, and the excess buildup can cause added stress to the system. Change your air filter every three months or less to prevent clogging and poor airflow.
Clear Outdoor Unit
Your air conditioner consists of two units. The condenser unit sits outside your house and may become dirty as it sits exposed to the elements. Keep this unit clear of debris by removing leaves and twigs from the top. Clear away vegetation and other items around the unit, leaving a two to three-foot clearance.
Gently spray the sides of the unit to remove dust and dirt, taking care not to spray water directly into the fan opening on top. Keeping this unit clean and clear helps prevent overheating and excess stress.
Schedule Maintenance
Annual maintenance can help you prevent a host of problems with your air conditioner while promoting greater reliability, better efficiency, and a longer life. Our technicians perform a broad range of tasks during annual maintenance, targeted at keeping your system running smoothly this summer and beyond.
Visual Inspection
We carefully inspect your entire system, looking over each and every part inside the air conditioner. We look for signs of damage and malfunction, as well as excess wear and tear on components.
This visual inspection helps us spot problems early so that we can schedule repairs before your system fails. We can also observe the age and lifespan of your system and help you decide when it’s time for replacement.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Gears, bearings, and other moving parts inside your air conditioner help keep the system running. These parts require proper lubrication to guard against damage from friction. Without lubricant, these components may rub against other parts of the AC and wear down, hindering function.
Clear Condensate Drain Line
The condensate drain line moves water out of the system, protecting the electrical components in your air conditioner. We thoroughly inspect this drain line and look for cracks and leaks. We also clear the line, ensuring it isn’t blocked. A blocked or damaged drain line may result in water dripping into your system and causing failures related to electrical issues.
Check Refrigerant
Our technicians make sure there is ample refrigerant in your AC for cooling. If your system has low or no refrigerant, we may investigate further and look for leaks. Leaking refrigerant is an environmental hazard and leaves your system without the materials needed to make cold air.
Inspect Wiring and Electrical
Frayed and damaged wires in the AC can lead to failures and safety hazards. We carefully look over all wiring and electrical connections and make sure all components are safe and secure.
Clean Coils
The coils inside your AC help with creating cold air and heat exchange. Over the seasons, dust and dirt may accumulate on these coils, hindering their normal function. Dirty coils may freeze due to insulation from the buildup. We carefully wipe away all buildup so that your system can operate stress-free.
Assess Airflow
After inspection, tuning, and cleaning, we turn on the AC and observe the normal cooling cycle. We check that you get sufficient and even cold air from all the vents in the house. We make sure your system cycles completely without stopping too soon or running too long.
Observe Sounds and Smells
Some typical sounds occur during a normal cooling cycle. However, if our technicians hear loud or unusual noises, we’ll need to investigate further. We also check for strange odors that could indicate a potential problem inside the system.
Calibrate Thermostat
In order for your air conditioner to produce the right amount of cold air, it must get accurate signals from the thermostat. If your thermostat measures the temperature incorrectly, your air conditioner will not create the optimal comfort level.
Our technicians will manually check the temperature near the thermostat and make sure your device matches. If not, we can calibrate it so that it reads properly.
Efficiency Boosters
Along with the normal maintenance tasks you perform this spring, you can help your AC function better and consume less energy with a few easy tips to boost efficiency.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Switch your ceiling fans to turn in a counter-clockwise direction. This rotation creates a downdraft, giving you a cool breeze to help you feel more comfortable while circulating the hot air that tends to rise to the top of the room.
Close Windows and Doors
Keep all windows and doors shut when the air conditioner runs this summer, especially when the temperatures reach extreme highs. Limit the number of times you go in and out to keep cold air in the house.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Consider replacing your standard thermostat with a programmable device. This helps you set different temperatures based on your busy schedule. With a programmable thermostat, you can set the device to change the temperature when you are away or when you need more or less cooling. This helps you cut down on energy consumption and keep your cooling costs lower over the summer.
Move Your Thermostat
Your thermostat works best in an open, central area of the house. Keep the thermostat out of the kitchen, where cooking can cause the room to warm more quickly, altering the accuracy of the temperature readings on the device.
Also, make sure your thermostat is not near heat-producing appliances that can skew the temperature reading. If your thermostat isn’t in an optimal location, our technicians can move it to a better spot.
Call Us for All Your Professional Services
When you need a little extra hand from the professionals, Rudd Plumbing Heating and Air is your trusted partner. As a one-stop shop for heating and cooling, we offer all the HVAC services you need to keep your system operating at full capacity.
Our dedicated technicians offer in-depth maintenance and inspection to keep your system healthy. We also provide skilled repair services using only the top-quality parts and materials. Finally, when your system reaches the end of its life, we’re here for expert HVAC replacement services.
For all your summer cooling system needs, leave your AC in the hands of the professionals. Call Rudd Plumbing Heating and Air today for air conditioner maintenance, repairs, and replacement so you can enjoy your Charleston, SC home this summer.
