Summer isn’t over yet! There’s still plenty of hot days left, so it’s important  to keep your air conditioner running properly. Routine maintenance is essential for keeping your AC working, but there are things that you can do in between professional tune-ups to make sure that your unit stays clean and efficient:

Inspect your AC

Before you start your AC right up, there are a few things that you should do. You can start by removing the cover and taking a peek at the outdoor unit’s panel. It’s designed to keep the electrical connections safe and hidden, so it needs to be in place to protect both you and the system. If you see any loose or broken connections, stop messing with it and call a professional.

Look for Damages

Look for any obvious signs of damage or wear and tear. For instance, the suction line is a large copper pipe on the outdoor unit that provides a refrigerant to the compressor. If the suction pipe has damaged insulation, there could be a loss of coolant to the outdoor unit. If you can see any areas of concern, call a professional to have it inspected and serviced.

Remove Built-Up Debris

Any system with an outdoor component should be kept clean and free of debris. be sure to remove any dirt or leaves that may have built up as well. It’s important to keep your AC free of obstruction or blockages- both inside and out. While gardening or mulching, avoid packing or planting anything around the base of the unit.

Replace Air Filters

Whenever the season changes, you should replace your indoor air filters. Especially after a long, cold winter where it’s likely that your indoor air filter will have gathered a lot more debris and dust than normal, you should be sure to change the filter before you need to use your AC.

Check the Drainage Hose

This hose is also called the “condensate line”. Since the coil’s temperature is lower than the air, water can lead to condensation. This water needs to drain, or the tray will fill up and flood the unit. If this happens, it can his can cause water damage and mold or mildew growth, so it should be taken care of immediately.

Turn on the Power!

After going through these steps, turn on your AC and see how it works! Check the air coming out of the vents for the first few minutes, and then every few hours throughout the day. A few minutes after startup, you should feel cool air coming out!

Call McHales today to schedule AC inspection or maintenance!