Ah yes, the first really warm spring or early summer day at your Waterford, MI home. It starts with some quick weeding and landscaping work in the yard during the cool morning. Then as the temperature rises and the grass dries, you work up a good sweat pushing the lawnmower around for an hour or two. Your reward is a round of golf in the hot afternoon sun, walking the entire 18 holes for a good workout. Now it’s time for some rest and relaxation in the nice cool house. Wait, what’s wrong with the A/C unit? The house is hotter than heck!
Oops, should have called Kotz
There are no guarantees in life, but the best way to prevent the above scenario is with seasonal air conditioning maintenance from your friends at Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. A professional technician will not only make sure your A/C unit is operating at peak efficiency right now but will also use his or her training and knowledge to spot potential problems that can cause a future breakdown.
What you can do to help
While comprehensive air conditioning maintenance requires a trained technician, there are several things you can do to help keep your house cool and comfortable.
- Change your filter(s). Airflow is the lifeblood of a central air conditioning unit. A dirty or plugged filter means it won’t cool properly and can quickly shorten the lifespan of your expensive equipment. Filters should be changed every 30 to 90 days depending on the filter type.
- Clear the area around the outside compressor. All vegetation and lawn debris (grass clippings & leaves) should be removed from an area at least two feet around the unit.
- Clean the cooling fins. The easiest way to do this is with a garden hose, but do NOT use a high-pressure nozzle, or worse yet, a pressure washer. High pressure water jets can damage the delicate fins on the compressor. If the fins appear particularly dirty, you can buy a chemical cleaning spray to apply before you wash them.
- Clean the condensate line. You need to move indoors to the air handler for this task. This is usually a PVC pipe that drains the water (humidity) extracted by the A/C unit. Over time dirt and algae can slow the water flow or even plug the line. A shop vac can be used to suck any debris out of the pipe. It’s also a good idea to pour a cup or two of a bleach/water mixture through the condensate line.
Day of reckoning
This will come for all A/C units because air conditioning maintenance can only slow down normal wear and tear, it can’t stop it. When the time comes for major repairs you will have to decide if it makes more sense to repair an old air conditioner or replace it with a new, more efficient model. Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing will be happy to walk you through the process, so you are able to make an informed decision about repair versus replacement.
Don’t run the risk
Don’t take the chance of having an A/C unit breakdown in your Waterford, MI home. Call now to schedule your air conditioning maintenance. It’s the best way to assure a comfortable experience after a day of working or playing outside when the hot weather arrives. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more great information.
