Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Summer

When an air conditioner unit sits idle for months, collecting leaves and debris, maintenance is often needed to get it running correctly.

These simple steps can prepare your air conditioner for the warmer summer months.

Change the filters

Changing the filter is probably the most straightforward form of air conditioning maintenance, but many people often don’t do it.

The filters should be replaced every month or two to keep your AC running smoothly, says the U.S. Department of Energy.

Install Programmable Thermostat

If you don’t already have one, you can gain significant energy savings by installing a programmable thermostat and setting it to reduce the use of air conditioning or heat when you don’t need it, like when you’re away for work.

Clean The Coils On the Outside Unit

During the winter, your air conditioner outside the unit has been collecting dust, mud, and other debris, especially if you don’t use a cover. That debris clogs up the unit, causing your air conditioner to run sluggishly.

Plants, leaves, and debris near your outside unit can reduce your air conditioner’s performance. Before running your air conditioner, clean out any debris and consider removing plants that block the unit.

During the summer, check the unit for debris at least once a month.