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If you want to be a responsible homeowner, there are a lot of little things you need to stay on top of. Not only do you need to make sure your plumbing and electrical systems are in good shape, you also need to take good care of your heating and cooling. This includes having an air conditioning service help you prepare your HVAC system for the upcoming summer. If you’re wondering what you have to do to get the HVAC system in your home ready for the summer, here are some tips to help you out.

Seasonal Maintenance

One of the hardest parts about keeping up with AC maintenance is knowing how often you need to have your AC serviced. According to most professionals, you should have your HVAC system tuned up at least twice a year for the best results.

Seasonal air conditioning service should be done in both the fall and the spring. These are the two seasons when you use your HVAC system the least, so you can afford to have it out of commission for a while. Plus, having your AC maintained during the spring means you can count on it to be ready for the summer.

Air Filter

The first thing you need to make sure you do before summer arrives is change the air filter in your HVAC system. The warm and cold air that enters your home from your HVAC system has to run through a lot of ducts, which are a common spot for dust and other grime to build up. When you have your seasonal services done, you should have your air filter replaced with a new one.

How often you should change your air filter depends on the circumstances in your home. If you live alone and don’t have any pets, you only need to change your filter once or twice a year. However, you may have to change your air filter as often as once every two or three months if you live with a family or have pets in your home.

Another important thing to remember about air filters is that there are lots of different efficiency ratings. These ratings tell you how small of particles your air filter can trap. Your air conditioner service expert can help you determine which air filter is best for your home.

Cleaning Your Unit

When you have seasonal air conditioning service done, there are lots of little things your HVAC technician will do to make sure your AC is ready to go. One of the most important things is making sure the unit itself and the area around it are both clean.

The condenser and evaporator coils are the most important parts of your AC unit to keep clean. These coils are responsible for most of the function of your AC, pulling moisture from the air to create cool air and send it into your home. When these coils get dirty, your AC won’t run as efficiently and may stop blowing cold air altogether. You should have your coils cleaned at least once every year, although twice is best.

Aside from the coils, you also need to keep the outside of your AC unit clean. Proper airflow is essential for getting the most efficiency out of your AC, and you can’t get that without open space around your unit. An air conditioning service expert can help you make sure your AC unit is free of leaves and other debris in addition to cleaning the coils to keep it running at maximum efficiency.

Ductwork

If you’re having an air conditioning service expert take a look at your air conditioner, you should also have them inspect the ducts it’s hooked up to. A lot of Cleveland, TN, homeowners don’t understand just how dirty their ducts can get. Cleaning your ducts not only ensures proper airflow for improved efficiency, it also gives you better indoor air quality.

While ducts don’t necessarily have to be cleaned during every air conditioning service call, keeping your ducts clean is a big part of taking good care of your air conditioner. The more dust and debris there is clogging up your ducts, the less airflow your air conditioner gets. When airflow from an AC unit is impeded, it makes the unit work harder and can eventually cause it to blow out warm air.

The Time for Upgrades

Upgrading your HVAC system can give you improved comfort, better indoor air quality and a cheaper monthly energy bill. However, you don’t want to have an air conditioning service upgrade your AC during the middle of summer, especially not when you’re dealing with the hot summer temperatures of Cleveland.

If you’re already having your HVAC system looked at this spring, you should also make sure you squeeze in any upgrades you want done. While an entirely new AC unit is a bit ambitious for most people, a new programmable thermostat can completely transform your HVAC system. You can even opt for a smart thermostat that you can control via your smartphone no matter where you’re at. The best part is, an air conditioning service expert can install a new thermostat in your home in no time at all.

The Easy Way

There’s no way around having seasonal AC maintenance done if you want to keep your AC in good shape. With all the moving parts that make your AC work, there’s a lot that can go wrong. The best thing you can do is prepare for those problems by taking good care of your AC.

If you’re looking for an air conditioning service to help you keep up with seasonal maintenance, Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air can help. Next time you need somebody to tune up the AC in your Cleveland, TN, home, give Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air a call at 423-668-0507.