Do These 10 Things Before Cooling Season Begins

Believe it or not, summer 2021 is only about one month away, and soon you will be turning to your air conditioner for cool comfort night and day (especially this year, which experts predict will be a scorcher here in the Northeast).

But don’t touch that dial just yet! Here are 10 things you should do before you start relying on your central air conditioning this summer.

1. Check your thermostat. A thermostat is the brain of your home HVAC system – make sure it’s up and running properly, with fresh batteries. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you’re missing out on one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to save on your summer cooling bills.
2. Check your ductwork. Ducts are notorious leakers – in fact, as much as 15-20 percent of the air you paid to cool will never make it into your living space. Seal any obvious leaks and fix out-of-place duct joints in exposed ductwork areas. If you’ve had your central A/C system for five years or more, consider investing in professional duct sealing (since the majority of duct leaks in most homes happen behind the wall).
3. Clear air vents. Move drapes, curtains, furniture, or anything else that prevents air from flowing freely from your vents.
4. Check the drain line. A blocked drain line will divert water to other places – like back into your house or toward your foundation. Keep it clear!
5. Check your filters. A clogged air filter does a number on efficiency, and the chronic overwork it causes could eventually do a number on your air conditioner itself. Check your air filter about once a month during peak cooling season, replacing it (or cleaning it, depending on the model) when needed.
6. Check electrical connections. Issues with wiring could knock out power to your A/C. Check electrical connections and circuit breakers before summer starts.
7. Clear debris from outdoor units. Check your outdoor condenser for leaves, twigs, nests, and other debris. Proper airflow is essential throughout the home cooling system chain.
8. Check refrigerant lines. Insufficient refrigerant will make it impossible to generate cold air. Look for visible signs of a refrigerant leak, including poor cooling, ice on the evaporator coils, and fluid spots near your A/C condenser.
9. If the time has come, don’t hesitate: replace your old A/C.  A 15-year-old air conditioner could have a SEER rating as low as 6 – a far cry from a new 15 SEER unit. That translates to hundreds of dollars in cooling bills over the course of a season – not to mention unreliable cooling on days when you need it most.
10. Get professional maintenance. There is no better way to prepare your air conditioning unit for the season than to have it inspected and serviced by a qualified A/C specialist. An expert technician will replace worn parts, lubricate your system, check your refrigerant, and do all the little things that will keep your home cooling equipment running at its reliable best.

Summer is coming fast – be ready with expert air conditioning service from Fredericks Fuel. Contact us today to learn more about A/C installation and A/C maintenance in New Jersey!