How to get your air conditioner ready for summer
Summertime – and the Living
is Easy – or should be!
Hot! Sticky! Humid! Unbearable! Expensive!
It’s here, folks! Summer means barbecues, family gatherings, long cold drinks,
evenings with friends on the patio and – mosquitoes and wet patches on your
shirt! But no worries – you can step inside to cool down, can’t you?
Did you check your air conditioning back in the spring? Of course you did!
But if not, here’s how to get your air conditioner ready for summer.
You know that as long as it’s in good working order, it should take you
through the hottest, stickiest days of summer and reduce your energy
costs! It’s getting really expensive to run your system all summer isn’t
it? Did you know that using an evaporated cooling system will ensure your home is
cooled effectively for a fraction of the cost of a refrigerated system? Something
to consider perhaps for next summer’s heat!
Here’s a complete checklist to show you how to get your air conditioner
ready for summer! Follow these suggestions and your system will function
faithfully all summer long!
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Check the fan belts on the condenser and the fan itself. Are they a bit frayed-looking? You can easily replace
them; just make sure that when you install the new ones, you adjust the tension
to allow about half to three-quarters of an inch slack when you press on the belt
with your finger. Don’t make them too tight otherwise you can damage the shaft
bearings. And if there’s an adjustable pulley on the fan, check that it’s
set at the smallest diameter to move as much cool air around as possible.
Replace or clean the filter at least once a month. This is so important.
This is what catches dust, pollens and other allergens, preventing them from entering
your house. And if it’s choked with dust and pet hair, it slows down the cold
airflow, makes the system run harder and longer - and costs you more money.
Clean the coils. You can get a commercial coil cleaner at any refrigeration
supply house or hardware store and you apply it with a sprayer, following the manufacturer’s
directions.
Coil fins – make sure they’re running straight and true.
You can do this with a plastic fin comb or a pointed stick – this is important
because air will not circulate efficiently with bent coil fins.
Bearings need oil. It’s easy to do; there are oil holes near
the shaft supports. Put five to ten drops of light machine oil in each hole and
rotate the shaft three or four times to make sure it’s distributed properly.
If you can still feel a couple of rough spots, the bearings need to be replaced.
Check the condenser. If it’s at ground level, make sure that
it’s clear of leaves and other debris or vegetation, otherwise the air flow
will be restricted. Consider shading it from direct sun with some bushes or tall
plants – this will improve its cooling function.
Insulate the “cool line” – this runs from the
condenser to the compressor – make sure it’s insulated with snap-on
urethane or other high R-value insulation – ask the guys at your local hardware
or refrigeration store.
Temperature difference check – this is critically important!
Use two thermometers at the same time to measure the warm return air entering the
evaporator coil and the coil discharge air entering the house. The difference between
the two measurements should be at least 12F to 16F or greater. If it shows a lower
temperature difference, you should have the refrigerant checked by an HVAC serviceman.
It could be that the system needs to be recharged with coolant or the compressor
is not working efficiently.
And if you’ve done all the above, you’ve done everything you can do
to keep your system running efficiently at the lowest possible cost. There are a
few other things you can do to reduce your energy bill, however – keep your
windows closed in hot weather with the blinds tilted so that they block direct sunlight.
Turn up your house thermostat as high as you comfortably can and open your windows
at night to allow the cooler air to circulate in the house.
And consider installing an evaporative cooling system for next summer – the
cost of running it is minimal and it’s a great investment as the value of
your house will increase! Plus – you’ll already have your air
conditioner ready for summer!
"Providing immediate, same-day service for over 23 years"
AFM Heating & Cooling LLC
37676 Northfield Ave. Livonia, Mi 48150
Phone:
734-464-6700 Fax: 734-464-6710
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