Darrick Philip, owner of Lifetime Heating, Cooling, and Electric, shares suggestions for successfully making the seasonal transition and avoiding emergencies over the summer.
What should homeowners do to prepare their air conditioning units for summer?
As homeowners start turning on air conditioning, they need to be aware of airflow. Air conditioner units are sensitive to restrictive air flow, so filters should be changed every 1 to 3 months and the vents should be balanced for the best airflow for cooling your home. Check for and remove debris, weeds, and other plants growing up around equipment outside so that it has free airflow there as well.
What preparations are best left to professionals?
Having a professional provide service and maintenance on your equipment allows for issues to be addressed right away without having a breakdown. A tune-up includes having filters replaced, coils cleaned, and drains cleared out. We use special cleaners that don't damage the fans or the equipment and get all the grime and build-up off the fans and coils, both inside and outside.
Typically, systems have buildup from dirt, dust, and sometimes the moisture that is on there will grow algae in the drains. A technician uses a special treatment to flush and clean out the system.
What else do you recommend for a cool summer?
When cooling, the name of the game is consistency. It’s best to keep the air conditioning set at a comfortable temperature all the time and not have it fluctuate a lot. Air conditioners do not recover temperature differences as easily as a furnace might when you're heating. If you’re trying to cool 5 or 10 degrees, it's going to take a lot longer, especially if you've turned it off before you went to work and turned it back on when you got home. You may not recover on a warm day quickly enough to be comfortable.
Lifetime Heating, Cooling, and Electric services all types of air conditioning brands and systems and has great solutions for seasonal allergies and air quality. For more information, visit Lifetimeheating.com or call/text 425-553-4328.
It’s best to keep the air conditioning set at a comfortable temperature all the time and not have it fluctuate a lot. Air conditioners do not recover temperature differences as easily as a furnace might when you're heating.