Ways to Prepare Your Air Conditioning Unit for the Summer

If you want your AC to work when you need it most, it requires a bit of maintenance throughout the year. So, let's take a closer look at the ways to prepare your air conditioning unit for the summer.
Start by replacing your AC's filterThe first step to prepare your air conditioning unit for the summer should always be to replace its filter. The filter accumulates a lot of dirt, dust, and harmful particles over weeks or months if you are not using your AC. Even a frequently used AC collects them. But at a slower pace that lets you stretch out their use a bit longer. You want to do this mainly to improve your AC's performance, but another strong motivator exists. If you have anyone who suffers from allergies in your family, an old AC filter with lots of contaminants is a guaranteed way to trigger them. This means that keeping your AC filters fresh is also a perfect way to improve air quality in your home effectively.
Clean the condenser coils and finsThe condenser coils and fins of your AC condenser unit are an essential part of it. It lets the AC maintain normal performance levels and helps it release or collect heat, depending on the time of year. However, the fact that the condenser unit has to be located outside means it is exposed to many diverse conditions. Things such as dirt, dust, and even smaller debris can get caught on the coils and fins. If this happens, the functionality of the condenser obviously suffers, and the AC's ability to regulate your home's temperature plummets. You can buy a protective covering for the condenser if it doesn't come with your unit. But it's still an essential part of preparing your air conditioning unit for the summer to clean it.
Check if the thermostat on your AC unit worksA broken thermostat is one of the most annoying things that can go wrong with your AC unit. In fact, a broken thermostat makes it impossible to use an AC effectively. So taking care of that is an essential requirement to prepare your air conditioning unit for the summer. And the good news is that checking whether your thermostat works is simple. Just turn on your AC and try to adjust the temperature. Keep in mind, too, that you can choose to replace your regular thermostat with a smart one. The experts from Easy Move KW point out that this is particularly useful for any rooms you plan to use to store temperature-sensitive items. This includes rooms such as a pantry since an AC can very effectively contribute to keeping your less perishable foods safe.
Giving the coolant lines an inspectionCoolant lines connect that unit to your AC. They can be tubes or pipes covered by foam coolant line insulation that helps them maintain the temperature of the air they transport. It is crucial to spot any sign of fraying or flaking of this insulation since the temperature loss becomes significant without it. At the same time, any damage to the coolant lines themselves requires a replacement. Since they are covered by the insulation and trying to remove it can easily damage them, this is one of the reasons why it's vital to schedule seasonal HVAC tune-ups and checkups. Professionals know what they are doing and can avoid accidentally damaging your coolant lines or their insulation.
The ductwork checkIf you have any exposed ductwork in your home, it is imperative to check it carefully. Any problems with it can very quickly translate into issues with your AC. Namely, holes or any breaks in the ductwork's sealing quickly cause your AC's efficiency to plummet. In turn, keeping your home at the desired temperature takes a lot more power and makes your electricity bills shoot up. This is true even if you get an excellent HVAC with great power efficiency. Do not ruin your setup through negligence!
Cleaning and inspecting air ventsAir vents can cause similar but slightly less noticeable problems than your ductwork. Namely, if your air vents are clogged, the climate-controlled air cannot circulate properly. In other words, parts of your home likely won't benefit from your AC at all. At the same time, a very important reason to pay attention to their cleanliness is your family's health. Air vents can also serve as a source of allergens. And the circulating of air ensures that they spread all over your home.
The potential problems with your drain lineThe final thing you need to do to prepare your air conditioning unit for the summer is to check your drain line. The drain line is part of your AC that diverts the condensation formed by it working away from your home. So, if it develops a clog, the water can start dripping from parts of your AC it shouldn't be in. This is both annoying in the sense that it causes contained flooding and dangerous due to water potentially mixing with electricity. A way to clean the drain is by rinsing it with a cup of bleach quickly, followed by a gallon of clean water.
A warning when trying to prepare your air conditioning unit for the summerEven though you learned how to prepare your air conditioning unit for the summer, remember that no matter what you are doing, you have one priority: staying safe! Before you even consider doing any maintenance or cleaning on your AC unit or its components, check if their power is on. Disconnect them if you can. If this is impossible, temporarily turn off the part of your home that feeds power to it. You should never risk your health and safety by carelessly working on an appliance or device which is still connected to the power grid.