Living in Mesa, AZ means dealing with triple-digit temperatures throughout most of the summer and relying heavily on your air conditioning to keep your home cool. This extreme heat takes quite a toll on an AC system and can easily lead it to break down or just not perform as well as you need it to. The best way to avoid these problems and keep your electricity bills down is to take steps in the spring to maintain your AC system. This will ensure that it’s fully up to the job once the extremely hot weather hits.
Make Sure the Outdoor Unit Is Free of Debris
One thing you always need to do before turning your air conditioning on for the first time each year is to check the outdoor unit to make sure it’s clear of debris. This is to ensure that no damage occurs once the unit starts running. For instance, a stick stuck in the top of the unit can prevent the fan blades from spinning, which could cause the fan motor to quickly burn out. Leaves stuck in the panels on the sides of the unit can block off the airflow to the point where the compressor may overheat.
Replace or Wash the AC Air Filter
It’s also a good idea to replace the air filter before turning on your AC just to make sure it can function at its peak. If you have a reusable filter, you also want to make sure that you wash it well and then let it dry before putting it back in. A dirty air filter can cause all sorts of issues, as it restricts the incoming airflow. Not only will your AC not perform nearly as well if the airflow is restricted, but you can also end up with issues like the blower overheating or the evaporator coil freezing up.
Replacing or washing the filter is something you need to do regularly throughout the year. Most manufacturers recommend doing it at least every three months. You need to do it more often if you have pets or anyone who smokes indoors. You may also need to do it more frequently during the peak summer heat due to how much your AC runs each day.
Test Thermostat Functioning
The next step is to check that your thermostat is showing the correct temperature and that it still works like it’s supposed to. The easiest way to check if the temperature is correct is with a kitchen thermometer. To test if the thermostat is functioning properly, switch it to cooling mode, and adjust the temperature to where your AC should come on.
If it comes on as it should, you then want to raise the temperature above what the thermostat shows to make sure your AC turns off. If the thermostat isn’t reading the right temperature or doesn’t immediately signal your AC to turn on and off, you’ll likely need to have it recalibrated or replaced.
Schedule an AC Tune-Up
You’ll need to hire a professional for the rest of the essential maintenance tasks. Certain tasks, like cleaning the condenser coil and checking the refrigerant level, are hugely important to ensure that your AC system cools effectively and uses as little energy as possible. A dirty condenser coil can cause your cooling bills to rise as much as 30%.
If your cooling system is low on refrigerant, it will take much longer than it should to cool your house. In some cases, low refrigerant can keep an air conditioner from cooling at all; it will only circulate hot air throughout the house.
During an AC tune-up, the technician will perform all the necessary tasks to ensure your AC system is up to the job and works efficiently. They’ll also inspect everything and test the various components to make sure nothing needs to be repaired or replaced. Taking care of any issues before the extreme heat arrives means there’s a much lower chance of the system breaking down when its workload greatly increases.
Contact Us Today
For reliable AC services in Mesa, turn to the pros at Axis Air Conditioning. We have years of experience in AC maintenance, repair and installation and will do whatever it takes to keep your home cool this summer.
By signing up for our Comfort Club maintenance plan, you’ll gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing your AC is properly maintained. The plan includes yearly AC and heating tune-ups along with other great benefits like discounted repairs, free service calls and priority scheduling.
To learn more about our maintenance plan or to schedule a tune-up, call our team at Axis Air Conditioning today.
