4 Tips for Preparing Your AC Unit for the Summer Months

You might have been using your air conditioner sparingly for the better part of the year, but when the summer months come, you know your AC unit is in for a lot of work.

With summers seemingly getting hotter every year (and apparently, longer by the end of the century), it’s only wise to prepare your AC unit for the daily grind ahead.

Fail to perform any preventative AC maintenance before summer arrives, and the likelihood of your AC breaking down in the middle of the hottest months of the year increases.

Here are four tips that will help you prepare your AC for summer and prevent such breakdowns.

1. Clean Your Air Filter

Of all the parts that make up your AC system, the air filter is often seen as the simplest, as it’s just a cardboard-framed box with pleated material.

However, for all its simplicity, the air filter is actually one of the most important parts of your air conditioning system. It traps and holds dust, dirt, pollen, and other particulates and contaminants to keep indoor air quality as great as possible.

Since the air filter accumulates dust and dirt over time, replacing or cleaning it before the onset of summer will ensure excellent airflow and clean indoor air when the climate heats up.

2. Clean The Outside Unit

The outside unit of your AC system is exposed to the elements, especially if you do not cover it over the months that it’s not in use. It won’t be a surprise if your outside unit is covered in dirt, dust, and debris such as leaves and twigs.

As with a dirty filter, a grimy outside unit is likely to cause poor airflow, making it work harder. That would lead not only to an inefficient operation but also overheating since the outside unit will have a difficult time pushing warm air out of your home. When your AC overheats during the summer, it would only be a matter of time before it breaks down.

Considering how hot summers can get, it’s imperative that your outside unit be as clean as you can make it.

Before turning your AC on for the summer, make sure that the outside unit—which includes the condenser coils and cooling fins—is clear of dirt, dust, and any sort of debris that might obstruct airflow.

3. Check the Insulation On Refrigerant Lines

Your AC system typically has two copper lines that run from your air handler’s evaporator to the outdoor unit. These are refrigerant or coolant lines, and they’re usually insulated with foam to prevent energy loss.

Check these lines and see if the insulation is still intact. If you find frayed or missing sections of insulation, buy AC pipe insulation at a home improvement store near you and replace them right away. Whether you go with foam rubber, fiberglass, or polyethylene foam insulation would be entirely up to you.

Your refrigerant lines need to be fully insulated, especially during the hot days of summer. Coolant lines that don’t have full insulation will likely cause condensation up on their surface, which, in turn, could leak into your home.

4. Get Professional HVAC Maintenance Done

The three previous tips are all good, but all of that and more can be done in one fell swoop if you get the services of a professional HVAC contractor before summer comes around.

On top of cleaning the air filter, the outside unit, and checking your coolant lines’ insulation, HVAC pros will ensure that your air conditioner will be in tiptop shape for the duration of the summer by:

●      Checking your duct system

●      Checking refrigerant levels

●      Inspecting system controls

●      Cleaning the blower and make necessary adjustments

●      Lubricating motors and all moving parts

●      Inspecting all electrical components

●      Checking the area near the air intake

●      Tightening fan, bearings, and belts

●      Testing the thermostat

Your air conditioner is a machine, and it will likely break down at some point because of other factors such as a bad capacitor, a refrigerant leak, or the age of the equipment. However, you can delay the onset of such malfunctions if you only provide your AC unit the maintenance work it deserves.

By having professional HVAC technicians pore over and test every vital part during a maintenance session, your AC stands a much better chance of powering through the summer heat without any hitches.

About the author

Rachel Watson is the Senior Content Editor of Precision Air & Plumbing, a full-service HVAC, plumbing and home performance contractor operating in Chandler, Arizona. Rachel enjoys yoga and writing articles about how to make home living more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.