6 Top Tips to Maintain Your HVAC System for Summer

Who doesn't love a summer full of beach getaways, picnics, and pool parties? The failure of your air conditioner while temperatures are at their highest, however, may be the quickest way for your summer fun to be ruined. To guarantee you have a comfortable, cool house to unwind in after all your outdoor activities, you need to make sure your HVAC unit is properly maintained throughout the year.
 
Ensuring that your HVAC system is in good operating order may not be at the top of your summer “to-do list” but it’s important to make sure your family is cool and comfortable throughout the sweltering summer.
 
How to Maintain Your HVAC System for Summer
Take these six preventative steps and examine your HVAC system in advance, so you can rest assured that you’ll be set for the summer heat.
 
1. Schedule Annual Maintenance Checks
The best course of action to ensure your home is cool and comfortable for summer is to choose a reliable HVAC service to clean and check your system on a seasonal basis. You surely do not want to have no air conditioner during the hottest time of the year, and there are experts who can assist in identifying and diagnosing potential problems.
 
2. Clean and Change Your Filters Regularly
The simplest and most efficient thing you can do to maintain the health of your HVAC system is to take good care of your filters. Clean air can circulate uniformly throughout the house when the air filter is properly maintained.
 
It is crucial to inspect your air filter regularly for pet hair, grime, and other debris that can accumulate in the air ducts, so homeowners with pets or carpeting should check the filter more frequently.
 
The filter can also become clogged with dust and pollen, which can cause the unit to perform less efficiently, increasing your electricity costs. If you use your air conditioner all year long, as most Floridians do, you should consider changing your filters every month. For disposable filters, write the date on the filter when you replace it, and make checking your filters a habit by coupling it with any other regular monthly occurrence, such as paying a bill.
 
3. Check for Cracks Around the House
An HVAC system must work harder to make up for cool air that escapes through any cracks or holes in your walls, doors, or windows. This escaping air is typically the main reason for a spike in summer utility expenses. Perform a basic search around your home and seal up any cracks that you find with insulation, weather stripping, and/or caulking where necessary.
 
4. Clear the Area Around the Unit
Outdoor condenser units can collect debris over time. Leaves and twigs can accumulate at the base, and it can become the perfect home for critters in the cooler months. As part of your yearly maintenance, make sure your air conditioner is turned off, and remove any debris you see close to the exterior unit's base.
 
5. Utilize Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans located throughout your home, this can be a great asset for your HVAC system. Fans may allow you to keep your thermostat a few degrees higher with the consistent air flow supporting the unit. In addition, if you set the blades to turn counterclockwise, ceiling fans can minimize the amount of hot air that rises, thus allowing the air conditioning unit to turn on less often.
 
6. Let the Unit Rest
The question of whether it's preferable to keep your air conditioning at a constant temperature or to raise it while you're away from home has generated some discussion. The simple answer is that by keeping the temperature constant when you are home and allowing your system to rest while you are gone, you will save the most money and energy.
 
Review Your Property Insurance Policy
In addition to the previous suggestions, there’s one more important property maintenance task that you should not skip: reviewing your property insurance policy.
 
At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we offer several services to assist you in property insurance reviews. We take pride in providing you peace of mind with the knowledge that your home is protected. Get back to what’s most important this time of year and enjoy summer with your family.
 
We can assist you, whether you need a pre-loss property inspection or help with filing an insurance claim. To find out how we can best serve you, call us at (561) 288-6434 or contact us here.