AC Repair Tips to Help You Relax During the Summer Heat

All winter we longed for the return of warm weather. We forget that warm weather usually leads to warmer, and outright HOT weather on the Texas Gulf Coast. While the grilling, vacations, and evenings around the pool are memorable, being without your air conditioner would also create memories.

The enemy of your air conditioner is DIRT; dirt in all of its forms. The best steps you can take to maintain cool comfortable air all summer long is to take a few minutes and remove the dirt you can reach. Here are a few simple AC Repair tips to remove the dirt you can reach, and help your AC run smoothly all summer long.

Change Your Air Filter

At the beginning of the summer, remove the HVAC air filter and replace it with a new, clean filter. All of the dust and debris collected on the filter was floating around the house, irritating sinuses and collecting on the hard-to-reach shelves. This dust and debris would also play havoc with the mechanical and electrical parts of the AC. The dirt will eventually clog the filter and restrict airflow, putting stress on the system.

The filter should be changed at least every three months. Smartphone calendar prompts will help you remember to change the filter regularly—such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Valentine’s Day. Setting calendar prompts on your phone to remind you to change your filter is easy to do and a preventative measure to reduce costly AC repairs.

Clean the Ductwork You Can Reach

With a vacuum cleaner attachment, clean the dust you can see around the air filter, around supply vents, and return air registers. All of the dirt you reach with your vacuum will not end up on the filter. If you can see more dust than you can reach, select a duct cleaning professional and schedule a vent cleaning. Your sinuses will thank you. Your housecleaner will thank you. Your air conditioner will thank you.

Clean the Outdoor AC Condenser Unit

A simplified purpose of the condenser unit is—it takes the hot air inside your house and releases it outside. The heat must be released quickly to prevent the condenser components from overheating. It needs a lot of airflows to release that heat and dirt prevents the air from moving freely. Take a few minutes to:

• Trim shrubs and tall grass
• Clean away leaves or debris that might have blown in
• Turn the breaker for your AC to the off position, and use a garden hose to gently spray clean the fins and coils that make up the sidewalls.
• Do not use a power washer, since this can damage the thin aluminum fins.

If you would prefer to enjoy your summer free from AC Repairs let a professional handle it. Call R.M. Mullinix and schedule an AC maintenance tune-up, and we will do the cleanup for you. An AC tune-up will:

• Save money
• Keep you comfortable all summer
• Give you one less thing to worry about.

Need help with AC Repairs?

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and AC Repair and Maintenance, schedule an appointment, or visit our HVAC Repair information page.