4 Tips to Prep for Air Conditioning Season

Summer may feel like it’s a long time off away. But before you realize, you’ll be moving from heating to cooling. Soon enough your air conditioner is working regularly to maintain cool temperatures. It’s smart to be ready for the extra usage before temperatures really start to climb. 

Strogen's Service Experts and our team of Experts can assist you. We’ve created our all-inclusive air conditioning memberships to boost your system’s energy efficiency and reliability. Our professional skill goes a long way, but there are lots of other steps you can take to protect your air conditioner. Here are four of the best ways you can get ready for air conditioning season. 

1. Clean Your Air Conditioner

Don’t worry, you won’t have to disassemble your system and clean every component. Our Experts handle this during your routine air conditioning maintenance appointment. 

But cleaning the space around your air conditioner will go a long way as well. We advise: 

• Getting rid of twigs, leaves and grass clippings from the outside of your air conditioner. 
• Keeping surrounding grass and plants trimmed back. 
• Maintaining at minimum 1 foot of open room on all sides around your air conditioner. 

If your air conditioner’s fins get clogged with dirt or yard refuse, this can affect performance and comfort. Your air conditioner will have to run more often to give the same level of cooling. In extreme cases, it may stop working altogether and need air conditioning repair. 

Your comfort and satisfaction matter to us, so we like to minimize the likelihood of repairs in the first place. A well-maintained air conditioner usually runs more efficiently, is less likely to malfunction and often lasts longer. 

2. Replace Your Air Filter

Routinely replacing your air filter is critical for your air conditioner’s well-being. During a maintenance visit, our pros check filters and put in new ones if necessary. Putting in a new filter is quick and straightforward. You can (and should) do it on your own whenever! 

How frequently you need to get a new filter depends on: 

• The kind of filter you use. 
• If someone in your house has asthma, allergies or other respiratory concerns. 

• If you have pets. 

Basic flat filters usually last for 30–60 days. More dense pleated filters can last up to 90 days. If you don’t know if your filter should be replaced, take it out, and angle it toward the light. Get a new one if you can’t see light through it. 

Filters catch dust, pollen and other pollutants from your house’s air, keeping airflow healthy. Neglecting it will impact your house’s indoor air quality and your air conditioner’s efficiency. 

In some situations a dirty filter could even damage your system or cause it to malfunction. Frequently putting in a new one will keep the inside of your air conditioner cleaner and airflow more consistent. 

If someone in your household has allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems, check with our Experts about how a HEPA filter can relieve symptoms. 

3. Inspect Your Thermostat and Smoke Detectors

Now is a good time to check other important pieces of your air conditioner and other safety systems. 

If you rely on a programmable thermostat, ensure that it’s working like it should. If the batteries are getting low, replace them. 

For added control and convenience, think over upgrading to a smart thermostat. They make using less energy simpler. And select models can even tell you if there’s an issue with your air conditioner or if your air filter needs replacing. 

Although they’re not part of your air conditioning system, now is a good time to inspect the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Confirming they’re still good gives peace of mind and an added layer of safety. 

4. Keep Heat Outside

One of the smartest ways to boost energy-efficient cooling is to decrease the level of outside heat seeping into your house. Using premium window treatments such as blackout curtains, honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, can stop the sun from affecting interior temperatures. 

Here are a few other methods to keep your house cold without turning down the thermostat: 

• Run ceiling fans when you’re in the room. 
• Turn on your bathroom fan to eliminate heat and humidity when you shower. 

• Keep air vents clean to ensure proper airflow. 
• Install caulk and weatherstripping to seal your doors and windows. 

Rely on Strogen's Service Experts for Skilled Air Conditioning Maintenance

Our checklist will help your air conditioner operate better this summer. But the smartest way you can boost efficiency is with air conditioning maintenance. Some perks of this service involve: 

• Stress-free cooling. 

• Possibly cheaper cooling costs. 
• Potentially lengthening your air conditioner’s lifetime. 
• Keeping your valuable manufacturer’s warranty valid. 

Make sure your air conditioning is ready for this summer! Contact the heating and cooling Experts at Strogen's Service Experts now! Contact us at 603-923-4570 to book your maintenance appointment or to learn more about our HVAC membership plans.