Sarasota experiences extremely hot and humid summers. It’s pretty common for air conditioners to run almost nonstop throughout these months due to the heavy workload. Properly preparing your air conditioning system before the hottest weather arrives is key to minimizing your breakdown risk.
Preventive maintenance enhances energy efficiency, which reduces your cooling costs and helps to extend the lifespan of your unit. It’s great for catching small issues with your system so that you can avoid major repair costs over the summer. As a homeowner, replacing air filters, cleaning up around your condenser unit, testing your thermostat, and even inspecting your vents for proper airflow are all pre-summer AC checklist items.
1. Replace Your Air Filter
One of the easiest and most important things to do is replace your air filter. A dirty air filter can easily restrict airflow throughout your system and cause your AC unit to overheat and shut down. In Sarasota’s humid climate, your air conditioner will run for extended periods, causing your filter to collect dust and debris much faster. Most homeowners find they need to replace their filter every three months. Always have a spare filter ready to go, and inspect your filter every month throughout the summer.
2. Clear Debris Around the Outdoor Unit
Your outdoor condenser unit is responsible for dispersing heat to the air outside. If it becomes restricted with debris, like leaves, it can prevent your unit from dispersing that heat. This will leave your home feeling hot and uncomfortable because your AC unit can’t do its job.
During the springtime, it’s best to clean up around your outdoor condenser unit to remove leaves, mulch, grass clippings, or other debris. Trim back any vegetation or shrubbery so that there’s a good two to three feet of open space surrounding the entire condenser unit.
3. Test Your Thermostat Settings
Before the hottest weather arrives, test your thermostat to ensure that it’s functioning properly. Start by switching your thermostat from heating mode to cooling mode and confirm that your blower fan is set to auto and not on.
It can be helpful to put in a new battery to ensure that it doesn’t die over the summer months. Take the time to program your schedule now so that you can optimize your energy savings during the summer. If you don’t currently have a smart or programmable thermostat, it’s time to consider an upgrade, as they can provide extensive energy savings for Sarasota homeowners.
4. Check Airflow Throughout Your Home
When running your air conditioning system for the first time, verify that adequate airflow is coming from each vent. Walk around to each room in your home and hold your hand up to the vent to ensure a solid cold breeze is coming out of it.
If you notice weak airflow, it could indicate several problems. These include filter issues, ductwork issues, blocked vents, and blower motor malfunctions. Be sure to check if there are any obstructions, like rugs, curtains, or furniture, blocking the vent. Additionally, make sure that the vent grilles are in their fully open position to optimize airflow throughout your home.
5. Inspect the Condensate Drain Line
In Florida’s humid climate, air conditioners are responsible for removing a large amount of moisture from the air. This moisture forms on the surface of the evaporator coil and drips down into the drain pan. This drain pan has a condensate line that drains to either the outside of your home or another drain in your home.
Over time, mold, algae, and debris can clog the line and lead to water leaks or system shutdowns. It’s a good idea to visibly inspect the line and clean any mold or mildew growth out of the drain pan.
6. Invest in Air Quality Upgrades
Another must-do on your pre-summer AC checklist is assessing how effective your existing system is. If you notice that your home seems to be overly humid throughout the summer, even though you have a fairly new air conditioner, it may be time to consider indoor air quality solutions. Investing in a whole-home dehumidification system can help remove that excess humidity to enhance your indoor comfort.
7. Consider an HVAC Upgrade
If your air conditioning system is over 15 years old, it may be time to think about a replacement before summer hits. During the summer season, HVAC professionals get extremely busy, and it can take a while to get an AC replacement. By scheduling a replacement early, you have adequate time before the peak of summer temperatures hits.
8. Seal Up Air Leaks
One of our best HVAC maintenance tips is to ensure that you’re sealing up any air leaks around windows and doors to prevent your air conditioner from running excessively. Air leaks can easily open up on your exterior walls around your door and window frames due to natural expansion and contraction. Every spring, it’s best to seal up these air leaks with products like weather stripping or caulking.
9. Switch Your Ceiling Fans
Another must on your pre-summer AC checklist is switching the setting on your ceiling fans. Ceiling fans play a pivotal role in helping to enhance your comfort while reducing your energy consumption. In the summertime, ceiling fans should be spinning in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from below. This pushes air downward to create a wind-chill effect that makes the area naturally feel cooler. When you feel cooler sitting underneath the fan, you can turn the temperature up on your thermostat so that your air conditioning system runs less often.
10. Plan a Professional Air Conditioning Tune-up in Sarasota
One of the absolute best ways to prepare your AC for a Florida summer is to schedule an air conditioning tune-up in Sarasota. This is where one of our certified technicians will come out to inspect, clean, and test all the internal components of your system.
Professional maintenance includes refrigerant checks to ensure that your system has adequate refrigerant to effectively cool your home. Our technicians will clean both the evaporator and condenser coils to ensure they can encourage optimal heat transfer. They’ll inspect all of your system’s electrical components. With the salty air in Florida, it’s common for electrical components to corrode and need to be replaced. This system tune-up is great for catching and fixing these small problems to minimize your need for AC repairs.
Schedule Professional AC Maintenance in Sarasota, FL Today!
An important step to prepare your AC for a Florida summer is with a professional air conditioning tune-up in Sarasota. While there are many HVAC maintenance tips that you can follow to encourage efficient operation of your system, there’s no replacement for professional maintenance services.
Contact Arctic Air Home Services to schedule professional AC maintenance in Sarasota, FL, today!
