Ladies and gentlemen, we made it. We survived the winter! Although there are sure to be a few cold days left ahead of us, the worst of it is behind us. So long sub-zero temperatures and bone-chilling winds, and hello Mr. Sun and your glorious rays of warm heat! While we let ourselves de-thaw from the cold, it’s a good time to make sure that your AC system is ready for spring and summer. As good as it is to have winter behind us, we all know that we’re in for some high heat and loads of humidity and you don’t want to realize that your AC isn’t working properly after it’s too late.
In this post, we’ll give you some helpful tips on how to prepare your system for the heat, so that you can stay cool when indoors. If you’ve found that there is a serious problem with your AC and require the experts, then don’t hesitate to contact our HVAC company in Southern Wisconsin. We provide residential and commercial HVAC services to multiple cities including Janesville, Beloit, Milton, Evansville, and more. With years of experience and customer service being a top priority, you can rely on Rock Valley HVAC to keep you cool as the temperatures begin to rise.
Change Your Filters
No, this isn’t a hoax. You really do need to change your air filter! Neglecting this duty results in a lower performance from your HVAC system, which in turn makes you pay more on your monthly energy bills! No one wants to pay more money than they have to! Even if you haven’t been replacing your air filters routinely, now is the perfect time! The winter is known to accumulate more dust and debris in the filters, so with spring finally here make sure that the filters are clean! This will help to ensure that you will be cool and comfortable in your home when it’s scorching outside.
Your going to want to make sure that you get the right size and type of air filter for your system. If you have no idea, take the dirty filter into a department store and they can guide you to the right one. We recommend changing the filter at least once every three months, but if you have pets in the house you probably want to do it more often than that since their hair can wreak havoc on your system.
Get Your Ducts Cleaned
Have you been noticing dust all around your home or office even after changing out your air filter? The cause of this is likely your air ducts. Over the winter season, it is very likely that hair, dirt, dust, and other debris have collected in your ducts. When your ducts are full of a bunch of muck, not only is the air flow hindered (meaning that less cool air is getting where you need it), but it also means that you and your loved ones are breathing in dirty air. If any one of you has allergies, this will cause a lot of problems. The air circulating through your house will be full of dander, dust, bugs, mold, hair, dirt, and who knows what else. Not good. The smell will not be pleasant either.
If it’s been awhile since you’ve had your air ducts cleaned, it’s about time to get it done. Consider it spring cleaning! Here at Rock Valley HVAC, we provide professional duct cleaning services and are ready and able to get your ducts clean enough to eat off of (but of course don’t recommend). Just give us a call today!
Clean the Condenser Coils
It’s highly likely that over the last several months, your outdoor unit has collected a fair share of leaves, pet hair, sticks, grass, dust, and more. The job of the coils is to transfer the heat from indoors so that the refrigerant is able to do its job properly. If your coils are dirty or congested with debris, then the efficiency of your system could be decreased by up to 30 percent! So not only will you not be as cool as you should or want to be, but those inefficiencies will be hurting your wallet as well!
The good news is that it is really simple to clean the condenser coils without the need of assistance. There are a few options to choose from, one of which is cleaning them with a soft-bristled brush. But most people have found that the easiest method to cleaning them is by spraying them down with a hose or a pressure washer. Quick and easy and incredibly helpful to the performance of your HVAC system! To ensure that the condensers are clean and stay that way, clean the area around your outside unit. This includes trimming any bushes or branches around the unit to make sure that the debris stays away from the coils. If the unit is close to your yard, make sure that the clippings from the grass that you cut don’t pile around the system.
Test the Thermostat
One step that is often forgotten or overlooked by homeowners and business owners is testing the thermostat to make sure that it is operating correctly. Before the heat hits, make sure to test out the controls of your thermostat. You may have to recalibrate the unit. If it seems like it’s not working, or if you still have the dial thermostat consisting of mercury, then it is time to upgrade! We have a variety of thermostats at a fair price that you can choose from, and our experts will be there as soon as possible to install the new unit and make sure that you are good to go! Your thermostat can save you lots of money during the heat of the summer. Check out what ENERGY.GOV has to say about this.
Don’t Neglect Vents and Registers
So you have your ducts cleaned, your filters changed, your condenser coils free of debris, and your thermostat is in working condition? Your system is basically ready for the spring and summer. But wait! Have you checked your vents and registers? Just like your air filters, the vents and registers in your home can become clogged as well! While you go about cleaning your house, vacuum the vents and registers to insure that they are clear of hair, dirt, and other debris.
Contact Rock Valley HVAC
Is your system not working at all or is it on its last leg? No worries, we’re here for you! At Rock Valley HVAC, we offer professional AC repair and replacement services. So, if you’re worried about not keeping cool during these upcoming months, don’t be. Contact us today and we’ll offer a free quote and make sure that you have a highly-functional AC system. Stay cool!
