| DO-IT-YOURSELF AIR CONDITIONER TUNE UP CAN SAVE YOU MONEY Believe it or not, you can save money by simply doing simple maintenance all over the house. Keeping windows caulked properly, monitoring the house for carpenter bee or termite swarm and changing air filters regularly are examples of simple process that maintains your home and makes it a joy to live there. This article, courtesy of Al Clark's HomeAgain Newsletter, reminds us of those little things that we can do to ensure our AC is working well this summer. No one wants a hot house or to pay a professional for the simple "I could do that" maintenance. Always call me at 757 580-6546 if you need help...even the name of a good HVAC contractor |
Do-It-Yourself Air Conditioner Tune Up Tips To run efficiently, your air conditioning system needs a spring cleaning. These five cleaning steps can be done by just about anyone. Before starting, turn off the power to the air conditioner either by using the emergency switch or the breaker in the fuse box. 1. Change the filter on your furnace and air blower. Hopefully ,you're doing this every month anyway, right? 2. Check and inspect the pipe that drains condensed water from your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump. A clogged drain can cause water to leak onto the floor of your furnace room. Your system's manual will explain how to do this. 3. Check the seals on ductwork you can reach. If your air ducts run through the attic or above a drop ceiling, make sure the seals are still airtight. Leaky ducts can cause you to lose up to 20 percent of the air you're paying to cool. Surprisingly, you don't use duct tape to seal ducts as it won't last. Use mastic sealant or metal tape. Seal the connections where vents and registers meet the floors, walls and ceiling, too.  4. Clean the outside AC condenser unit. Gently vacuum the exterior grill of the condenser being careful not to bend the fins. Remove the fan cover and vacuum the inside of the unit to get rid of plants or animals that took up residence over the winter. Replace the fan cover. Cut back plants that are within 2 feet of the unit. 5. Install a programmable thermostat. Honeywell's online calculator shows you how much you can save by installing a programmable thermostat. Does your old thermostat have a dial or a lever? It could contain mercury so safely recycle it. Turn the power back on but don't switch the AC on right away. Give it 15 minutes to reset. If the power to the AC was off for more than 4 hours, wait a day before turning the system back on. One thing you may want to hire a professional to do: Check the refrigerant levels in your system. Too much or too little refrigerant reduces your AC's energy efficiency. Please contact me if you need me to put you in touch with an HVAC contractor. Have a window AC units? Try Repair Clinic's easy maintenance tips. |
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