How to Prepare Your Air Conditioner for the Off-Season

The last days of summer are quickly sneaking up on us, which means the cooling season is coming to an end. As your air conditioner starts to see less use, you should begin preparing it for the off-season. Executing a few basic precautionary tasks can ensure your AC is ready to start up next spring without running into any major issues. Follow the steps provided below to prepare your system for the next cooling season.

Evaluate Your Air Conditioner's Overall Performance 
Take a moment at the end of the cooling season to evaluate your air conditioner's efficiency and overall performance. Start by pulling out your utility bill for the last three months. Look for any drastic spikes in energy consumption. If you find your bill has substantially increased, especially compared to previous summers, your A/C may be struggling to cool your home. You should also take note of any performance issues, such as weak airflow or strange noises. If your evaluation points out a variety of problems and your system is over 15 years old, you may want to consider investing in a new air conditioner before the next cooling season rolls around.

Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced by a Professional  Scheduling a service appointment will guarantee your air conditioner is ready for the off-season. Our HVAC technicians will inspect your system and perform a variety of tasks designed to keep your AC in its most optimal condition. From removing dirt and debris, to evaluating your system's overall performance, our technicians can spot any underlying issues that may lead to a costly malfunction next cooling season. In the long run, having your air conditioner serviced at the end of the summer ensures your AC will operate at its most efficient level when it's time to turn it back on.

Keep Your Outside Unit Clean
Clearing the area around your outdoor unit is an important part of preparing your air conditioner for the off-season. Leaves, branches, weeds, and grass clippings can enter the unit, causing a variety of issues. Removing the debris immediately before the off-season, and sporadically throughout the fall and winter, will save your system from major problems down the road.

If you would like to schedule a service appointment, please contact us today to help you maintain the health of your air conditioner.




 

Reasons to Call an Air Conditioning Contractor

As soon as it starts getting warm outside, you likely want to turn your air conditioning on to cool off your home. However, because your air conditioner has been turned off for several months, you may run into some issues. For this reason, you may want to consider contacting an air conditioning contractor. Here are three reasons why you may want to call an air conditioning contractor.

The Air Conditioner Stinks
If you notice that your air conditioning has somewhat of a bad smell when you turn it on, this is a sign to call an air conditioning contractor. The smell could be due to a filter that is full and clogged; however, if it smells like there is something burning, then this could be a sign that something is wrong with your motor or motor belt. In either case, an air conditioning contractor can come to your home and repair the problem for you so that you can get your system up and running again.

The Air Isn't Cold
If the air coming out of your air conditioning unit isn't cold, the first thing that you should do is check and make sure that your thermostat is turned down. If it is, then this is a sign of a deeper issue that you will likely need professional help for. An air conditioning professional will be able to determine if it is a coolant issue, if there is something wrong with the air compressor, etc.

Overall, it is in your best interest to hire an air conditioning contractor if you need a tune-up, your air conditioner stinks, or the air blowing out of your air conditioning vent isn't cold.

We encourage your to contact us!