Prepare Your AC for Hot Summer

 

Get Your AC Ready for hot Summer in 6 Easy Steps.

When the temperature rises, don't get stuck sweating in the scorching summer heat! Before summer arrives, it's critical to perform some quick annual maintenance on your central air conditioner so you don't have to deal with the disappointment of it not working on the first hot day of the season. In addition, you should prepare your air conditioner for summer in Bakersfield during the spring.

 

A central AC uses an indoor air handler and an outdoor compressor. The condenser unit is typically located outdoors. You'll want to clean and maintain this portion of your air conditioning unit. Your AC has been sitting idle during cold winter, collecting leaves and other debris. Replacing the filters, cleaning the condenser, and performing negligible checks will get your AC unit into shape so it's ready to use and refrigerate your house efficiently this burning summer.

Here's how to get your AC ready for Hot summer in 6 easy steps

1. Safety First

Before working on your AC system, turn off the circuit breaker. Before working on your air conditioner unit, turn off the power to the condenser at the service panel. A 240-volt weatherproof disconnect box is usually located near the condenser. Next, use a lever, fuse, or circuit breaker to turn off the condenser. Make sure to disable this as well.

2. Clean or Replace the Filters

Clean or replace your furnace or air-handler filters whenever they look clogged with dust. Or at least twice a year. Not changing these filters will restrict airflow and reduce the efficiency of your AC unit. Unfortunately, dust filters also recirculate dust into your home. For more details on how to do this, see How to Replace Furnace & AC Filters.

3. Clean the Condenser Coils on the AC

Remove any debris from your air conditioner's condenser coils and fan. The condenser unit of a central air conditioner is usually located outside. It's a large fan in a metal box with grille-like sides. Find your condenser unit if it was covered during the winter. In this case, there is probably not much debris to remove. If it wasn't covered, you'd have to clear away a larger accumulation of leaves, yard debris, and dirt. First, make sure the fan is clean and free of debris. Check inside the box next. Air flows over radiator-style condenser coils. Examine the coils to see if debris has clogged them. If so, these coils must be cleaned for your condenser unit to operate at peak efficiency.

To clean the coils:

• Remove the side and top panels or protect the grilles from the condenser. Note: Double-check to ensure the condenser unit's power supply is turned off.
  
  
• Lift off the top. The fan may be connected to it, pushing it heavy. Note: Don't tug any of the wires linked to the fan.
  
  
• Clean the coils from the outside of the appliance using a vacuum's soft brush attachment or a refrigerator coil brush. Coils should be vacuumed from the inside after outside cleaning. Note: Avoid bending the delicate fins or damaging the coils.

4. Clean and Clear Debris

Clear all of the leaves and dirt from the condenser's base. Make sure the drain is clear if your AC has one. Then, use a hover or a towel to clean the fan blades on the blower. Clean up any extra water inside the unit before finishing. Reassemble the condenser when everything has been emptied and cleaned.

5. Check the Coolant Lines

From the evaporator on the air handler of your air conditioner to the condenser outdoors are tubes or pipelines that carry refrigerant. The typical coolant line insulation used to cover these lines is foam. The insulation should first be inspected for any frayed or missing sections. If so, replace it with new foam insulation sleeves or wrap the lines with foam insulation tape in a spiral pattern.

6. Test the Unit

After properly drying, test your freshly cleaned air conditioner. Your condenser unit has to have the electricity turned back on.

Restarting the condenser's power can be done as follows:

• First, turn on the thermostat of your home.

• Turn on the power at the disconnect box and the main panel.

• Switch the thermostat to cool.

Please note: The air is then refrigerated and dehumidified, and the air handler or boiler blower distributes it through ductwork to each room. Fixing the sealed refrigeration system in your central air conditioner is difficult. A qualified air conditioning service provider in Bakersfield should handle them. However, you can perform some cleaning and maintenance duties independently to maintain effective operation and reduce the need for expert service personnel. The following lists a few of their duties.

Don't have time to ready your air conditioning unit for the hot summer? Then, give MRV Service Air Inc. a call. We offer air conditioning, cleaning, and checkup services at reasonable rates!

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