Start Your Air Conditioner Before You Really Need It
Turning your air conditioner on before you really need to is one of the best things that you can do to prepare yourself for the hot summer months ahead. Doing so will save you time and money on service calls during the busy summer months and could even save you money on your summer utility bills. According to Energy.gov, “Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%.”
Take the time to turn your air conditioner on right the first time and you will also avoid the long lines for emergency service on the hottest day of the year.
Follow these steps to set yourself up for a cool summer. Always perform these steps with your air conditioning breaker switch set to “Off.”
- Uncover your air conditioning unit and remove all dust, dirt and debris inside and around the unit. Make sure to remove the grill that covers the condenser fan and clean the blades and remove anything blocking airflow to the fan.
- Replace or clean the filter in your HVAC unit.
- Set your indoor breaker to the “On” position and note that it stays on. If it breaks before the unit is turned on, there may be a short in your electrical system. Call a qualified electrician to check into the problem.
- Set your thermostat to “Cool” and adjust the temperature down. Make sure that the outdoor air conditioner unit is running and that the furnace fan is working.
- Check the refrigerant lines on the outdoor unit for frost. If you see that your lines are freezing up, turn off your system and contact a qualified air conditioning technician.
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/maintaining-your-air-conditioner
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/before-turning-central-air-first-time-69714.html