Prevent an Unpleasant Summer by Preparing Your AC

Texas is a warm state compared to some of the other regions in the USA, and that means that when summer arrives, it can get hot and uncomfortable.

These days though, that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Modern Texans have the air conditioning systems they can use in their homes to avoid the worst of the summer heat.

Some AC comes in the form of units put in the windows, while others are ductless, and have cooling units built into every room.

For maximum convenience, there is the centralized air conditioner, but you need to do some things in advance to get this type of hardware ready for another summer.

Examine & Clean Your Condenser

Central air systems have a large unit known as a condenser that is usually installed somewhere just outside the residence.

This piece of hardware is what draws in air from outdoors, subjects it to a coolant, and then pumps that cooled air into the home so it can be circulated.

Because the condenser needs to maintain good air flow, it’s built with a lot exposed or open spaces.

If you have plants or trees on your property, this can means that detritus such as leaves can get into the condenser itself, and eventually accumulate in the unit.

This can have an impact on how hard the unit works, so try to inspect and clean it out before you start putting your AC through its paces for the summer.

Replace or Clean Your Filter

The most common configuration for HVAC systems is to have an air conditioner that is integrated into a furnace.

Th at usually means that whether the home is being heated, or cooled, a filter is required that both units will use when in operation.

In practice, this means that you should be regularly replacing your filter, every season, or four times a year, every three months.

If you are using a disposable filter, simply discard the old one and replace it with a new one.

If you’re looking for a bit more longevity, more expensive permanent filters can be purchased and installed, but these should be cleaned regularly, rather than just left inside the unit and ignored.

A dirty filter means an inefficient AC, and that means higher bills.

Make Strategic Use of Your Thermostat

You may not give much thought to your thermostat, but if you have an older one, think about upgrading it to a modern, digital control system.

There are a few good reasons to do this, such as the greater accuracy in reading the temperature of your home.

This means newer thermostats don’t make your AC work any harder than it should.

The other big advantage is efficiency. You don’t just turn a new thermostat on and wait for it to hit the desired temperature.

New thermostats can be programmed to be inactive during the day if no one is home to save energy.

Then they automatically turn on just as people are arriving to keep the home comfortable.