As the city of Pittsburgh begins to defrost from the winter, it’s a smart idea to start preparing yourself for the upcoming summer months. Having a well-functioning air conditioner will be crucial for you and your family’s comfort during the sweltering months of summer. But before you turn your air conditioner units back on, you will need to perform some prep work. Home Mechanix, the leader of air conditioner repair in Pittsburgh, PA, is here to guide you through the proper steps for preparing your unit before the summer arrives.
How to Prep Your A.C. Unit for the Summer
Need help with your air conditioner? HVAC experts in Pittsburgh, PA are here to help guide you through prepping it for the summer.
Getting ready for the summer? Before you turn on your air conditioner, follow these steps first.
Prepping Your A.C. Unit
In order to fully prep your air conditioner for the summer, you will need to take a look at both its indoor and outdoor system components. Since it is probably still chilly outside, you can start by checking the indoor part of your unit.
Indoor Unit
You’ll need to clean the vents of any dust and debris that have accumulated over the winter. Next, you’ll want to inspect your air ducts. Homes in Pittsburgh can lose between 20% to 40% of their cooling capacity through inefficient ductwork. As you examine the ductwork throughout the house, you will need to look for any gaps, tears, fallen sections, and disconnected joints in the system. Seal up any issues you are able to handle yourself. If you spot some problem areas that are hard to reach, contact a professional HVAC contractor like Home Mechanix for assistance.
You aren’t finished yet! Don’t forget to change your furnace filter. If left unchecked, dust and debris can cause malfunctions and even a complete breakdown to your system. If your thermostat is a bit outdated, take the change of seasons as an opportunity to upgrade it! Having a programmable or smart thermostat can make a huge difference in your A.C. experience.
Outdoor Unit
After you finish inspecting your indoor unit, remember to check the outdoor one for any damage that may have occurred during the winter months. Make sure you clear away any debris that has accumulated and trim any landscaping surrounding your unit. Shrubbery should at least be 6 inches away from the unit.
Finally, you can test out the unit by turning it on. You don’t have to keep running it for an extensive amount of time. Simply turn it on using your thermostat, make sure that cold air is coming out of the vents, and switch it off when you’re finished.
Preventive Maintenance
Regular tune-ups are crucial for extending the life of your air conditioning system. You don’t have to bring a professional to check it every month. Bringing a worker in once a year to perform a full check on your system is sufficient enough for ensuring it runs smoothly and properly.
Checklist for Review
As you prepare your air conditioner unit for the winter, make sure you review these steps!
- Clean your air vents
- Check your air ducts
- Change your filter
- Check the thermostat and update if necessary
- Examine the outdoor unit for any damage or debris
- Test out the unit
Common A.C. Problems You Might Encounter
There might be issues with your A.C. but don’t fret! We can walk you through these issues.
Water leaks and dirty filters are common A.C. problems that homeowners face.
While you check your A.C. unit, you might encounter some problems. Water leaks, dirty air filters, frozen evaporator coils, and complete fan failure might occur during the winter months. Most people can just clean up their air filter. But if you find yourself dealing with more serious issues like a failure in your electric connection or a complete shutdown of your air conditioner unit, you may need to get professional back-up.
Air Conditioner Repair Services in Pittsburgh, PA
Home Mechanix offers routine service and maintenance for households around Pittsburgh.
Having issues with your air conditioner unit? Don’t fret! The repair experts at Home Mechanix can assist you.
Need to schedule a maintenance check? Home Mechanix offers routine maintenance, same-day repair, and 24/7 emergency HVAC services around the Pittsburgh area. The last thing you need to deal with is a broken A.C. unit, especially during the humid and muggy days of summer. That’s why Home Mechanix offers top-tier HVAC and A.C. services for people like you. Contact one of our team members today for a free estimate!
