With summer approaching faster than you know it, many of us will be relying on our home’s air conditioner to keep our homes cool and comfortable in the sweltering heat.
That is, of course, your air conditioner breaks in the middle of the summer — in which case you’ll be spending as many as several days in severe discomfort.
Luckily, there are a number of things you can do during the spring to make sure your air conditioner is ready to go this summer. This is the best time of the year to perform seasonal maintenance and repairs on your home’s HVAC systems. By doing this, you can ensure your heating and air conditioning systems last their full lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
To make sure your HVAC systems are in their best working condition throughout the summer months, you should be taking these three seasonal preventive maintenance steps for heating and air conditioning systems:
Inspect refrigerant lines
About once every month or season, you should visually inspect your air conditioner’s refrigerant lines to make sure they are properly insulated and there are no leaks. A refrigerant leak can cause your air conditioner to blow out hot air — something you never want. If you notice a leak, call in an HVAC specialist.
Replace your HVAC air filters
Every 90 days, your HVAC air filters need to be replaced — no ifs, ands or buts. During high-usage seasons like summer and winter, you may need to replace these filters more often. And if you have a pet, you may want to consider replacing them once a month. If you have dirty air filters, your air conditioner will have to work harder to cool your house, placing unnecessary strain on your system.
Turn off the furnace humidifier’s water
Because you won’t need to use your furnace during the summer months, you should turn off the water supply to your furnace’s humidifier this spring. This will help it last longer, save you money on water bills and ensure your humidifier is in top condition when winter comes around.
Have any other tips and advice on the best preventive heating and air conditioning repairs and maintenance? Feel free to share with us and your fellow readers in the comments.