Central Air Conditioner Maintenance in the Spring in Austin

If you want to increase your odds for a comfortable and relaxed summer, you must schedule spring air conditioner maintenance every year, before the hot heat of summer arrives. Routine maintenance of the central air conditioner will increase its longevity and efficiency. Home central air conditioners typically have two units, the outdoor and indoor unit. The HVAC technician should check, inspect and clean both of the units. A reliable HVAC contractor is easy to find in Austin for central AC inspection and maintenance. During the off-season, you should keep the outside unit covered with an air conditioner cover.
 

Spring air conditioner maintenance is affordable; you can save money by signing up with the same HVAC company for seasonal maintenance every year. If you are doing the AC cleaning yourself, do not forget to switch off the system on the circuit breaker to avoid any hazardous situations. Remove the covers on the outside unit of the central AC and sweep away any debris, leaves, or shrubs growing over the outside unit. The condensing unit is part of the outside unit of the AC; be sure to check it for animal and insect nests; such as, bees, wasps, rats and other insects. Remove any insect nests, and if you notice damage; contact an expert as soon as possible.
 

The area around the condensing unit should be clean and free of any debris. Use a garden hose to clean debris, twigs, and leaves built up on the top of the outside unit, and remove the debris settled inside with a water hose. The area above the condensing unit should be clear for about eight feet in the air, so make sure no trees are growing too close to it. To improve the air quality in your home, remove and replace the air filter regularly. A dirty air filter can cause allergies, so look for a high efficiency pleated filter that is anti-bacterial or anti-viral. The HVAC contractor should check the ductwork and look for any leakages, if there is a loss of cool air, he should repair the problem. The ducts and seams should be sealed tightly. Check registers from where the cool air blows into your house, and use a vacuum cleaner to remove any debris, and other small objects accumulated in there.
 

If your central air conditioner needs repair, do not ignore the problem. Late spring is the best time for air conditioner repair. An unkempt AC that has to work overtime in the summer is likely to break down on the hottest days.

Maintenance Tips for a Central Air Conditioner in Austin

Central air conditioning systems require a lot of maintenance and upkeep to keep them running as efficiently as possible. Maintaining a central air conditioning system is very important. You can call up licensed HVAC services in Austin for professional repair and maintenance in the spring and summer seasons. Maintenance of an air conditioner, if done properly, extends its life and efficiency. You should have some basic knowledge of your air conditioner to be able to maintain it.  The most important and basic maintenance task is to remove and replace air filters on your air conditioner every so often. Clogged and dirty air filters restrict airflow. If the air filter is dirty; the dirt will bypass the filter and will be sent directly into the evaporator coil. A dirty filter can lower the efficiency of an air conditioner by as much as 15%.
 

An HVAC expert will help you locate air filters in your central air conditioner system; usually these filters are located along the return duct’s length, or in ceilings, furnaces, or the air conditioner itself. There are different types of air filters; some are re-usable after cleaning, and others need replacement every two or three months. Air filter replacement also depends on the air quality of your home, the number of residents in the house, and if there are pets inside the house. HVAC contractors located in Austin will inspect your air conditioning system annually to make sure everything is in good working condition.
 

Use high efficiency and pleated air filters in your central air conditioner. There are different types of air filters, so check with the manufacturer’s manual to find out what kind of air filter is installed in your AC, and how often you need to replace it. A central air conditioner does not need to run all the time. Install a programmable thermostat that would automatically set cooler temperatures when you come home, and higher ones when you are gone for the day. If an AC runs all the time, it will lose its efficiency, and then you have to deal with higher energy bills. Shut off your air conditioning system completely while you are going out on a vacation. Adjustable thermostats are easily available and affordable. You can also buy smart thermostats that can be adjusted remotely with a smart phone.