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The First Day of Spring Means Only One Thing…

By March 23, 2015November 22nd, 2017Air Conditioning, HVAC, Tips
spring air conditioning checkup little rock ar

Is it 60 degrees or above where you are? Time to clean your air conditioning unit!

If you don’t take the time to clean your outdoor compressor before blasting your AC to keep cool this spring and summer, you could potentially affect the lifespan of your unit. Not only that, but your outdoor AC hardware has been collecting dust and allergens over the winter that could be released inside of your home. Listed below are some tips to help you effectively and healthily transition to our next season: spring!

  • Allow about a half day for cleaning to ensure that it’s done thoroughly.
  • Important: Don’t forget to turn your outdoor unit OFF and unplug it or switch off the power to it.
  • Change filter (indoors): you should be doing this about once a month. This keeps the unit from freezing and will help to eliminate allergens that get pulled into your home via your ventilation system.
  • Outdoor unit: trim any hedges in its proximity, remove any leaves or vegetation, check the drainage hole for any gunk, debris or leaves. Any debris not cleared from the drainage hole will keep your unit from draining condensation properly. (It’s recommended that you get inside of the unit to clean the build up off of the condenser or fan blades [same as you would for a ceiling fan].)
  • Check ductwork for cracks and holes. If you find any, they can be fixed with duct tape or caulk. *(You may want to hire in to clean the inside of your ducting to cut down on mold, mildew and dust that has built up over the “off-season.” That’s where we come in!)
  • Important: Keep an eye out for dark spots around the outside of the unit (particularly in the back). Black splotches could indicate an oil or coolant leak. If this is the case DO NOT try to fix it by yourself. This could be detrimental to your health and/or your unit. That’s what WE are here for.
  • Before you plug your outdoor compressor back in, go inside and turn your thermostat from “cool” to “off.”
  • Plug the outdoor unit back in.
  • Important: Before turning your unit on, let it sit for 24 hours. (Since it’s been off for a while, this allows for the unit to warm its internal lubricant to ensure it runs like a dream.)
  • Now switch the thermostat to “cool” and adjust the temperature just enough for the unit to kick on.

If all this seems like too much, you don’t want to do it or don’t know how… Give us a call and our HVAC professionals will fix you up and get you ready for all of the warmer days ahead.