With spring coming, and the warmer weather on the horizon for Clarksville, you want to make sure your air conditioning is ready. You can just flip the switch on your thermostat, but that may leave you sweating bullets when the hottest weather arrives. Here are six simple things you can do to make sure your air conditioner will stand up to the extremes of the summer.
1. Pre-Season Air Conditioning Test
First and foremost, consider a pre-season test of your air conditioner. Before running the test, be sure you have either removed the cover from your condenser unit, or made sure there is no more snow on top. Also, consider replacing your air filters before running the test to ensure there is plenty of airflow during the test.
When you do run the test, there are several things you want to observe:
- Unusual sounds coming from either your blower motor or the condenser unit.
- Any unusual smells.
- Observe the cycle length, and if there are any pauses mid-cycle.
- Does it feel like cold air is coming from your registers?
- Check to see if the volume of air coming from your registers feels normal.
If you notice any of these things are off, call in a professional air conditioning technician to troubleshoot and repair. (continue below)
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2. Test Your Thermostat
Your thermostat is often neglected until a professional comes in and tests it to finds out there is an issue. The check is rather simple for just about anyone to conduct. Simply get a digital or analog thermometer that can accurately read the room temperature. Set this directly above your thermostat and see if the temperatures match.
Even a one or two degrees difference can have a huge impact on your heating or cooling bill. If you find there is a difference, then you should consider one of two options. First, if your thermostat is aging, consider upgrading to a newer model. If you have a newer thermostat, you may want to mention it to your air conditioning technician during your next tune-up.
3. Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon monoxide is one of the greatest threats to your family’s health and safety and can come from your heating and cooling system. While you are preparing your air conditioner for the hotter weather, take the time to install a carbon monoxide detector.
If you already have one in your home, be sure to check it to ensure it is still working effectively. Part of the inspection should be replacing the backup batteries. Ideally, these are replaced every six months to ensure they have plenty of charge if they are ever needed.
4. Spring Tune-Up & Cleaning
Your system also needs a good cleaning and tune-up to ensure it is working efficiently. Not only does a poorly running system raise your utility bills, but it also shortens the life of your system. This regular maintenance can be the difference between your system lasting the expected 15-20 years and failing early.
During a maintenance visit, a Clarksville AC technician will ensure all of the components are working correctly and recommend replacing those that are wearing out. They will also clean critical components like the evaporator and condenser coils and the circulating fan.
5. Schedule Air Duct Cleaning
Along with keeping your furnace clean, you want to ensure you do the same with your air ducts. As air circulates through your system, it will deposit small amounts of dust, dirt, and other contaminants in your ducts. These contaminants will restrict the airflow through your system, as well as recirculate them through the air.
Your ducts can also lose a lot of energy if they are not properly insulated. You should have your ducts checked and cleaned every three to five years, or if you suspect there is a problem.
6. Improve Your Insulation
Properly insulating your home is one of the best ways to improve energy efficiency. First, you should check for any cracks or leaks that will allow in hot air. These can be difficult to find, but a heating and cooling technician has special instruments to detect these leaks.
Also, consider adding some additional insulation. The obvious area is to look at the insulation in your attic. However, there are many other areas you may want to consider insulating, including around your windows, and electrical and switch boxes. Just be careful not to put insulation inside the boxes, which may pose a fire hazard.
Call an Experienced Professional if Your System is Malfunctioning
Do you have an extremely old system? Are you seeing or hearing things that weren’t there before? If you suspect that the system is not working properly, you should call a professional as soon as possible.
A few signs that the system is in trouble include abnormal noises or smells, an extremely cold home, expensive bills, and frequent shutoffs. Regardless of the concern, an experienced professional can solve the problem and perform the necessary repairs before an emergency occurs.
Prevention and AC Tune-up costs are much more reasonable than having a costly repair later. Whether you live in Clarksville, TN or somewhere close by, the professionals at DOC Heating and Cooling are ready to help. The highly-trained technicians are available 24/7 for emergency calls and for regular maintenance to help keep your heating & cooling system running smoothly.
Schedule an Appointment Today!
Whether you live in Clarksville, TN or somewhere close by we are ready to help. Our highly trained technicians are available 24/7 to keep your heating & cooling system running smoothly.
