Do These Things Before Starting Your AC For The Summer

Spring is in the air. Right now, temperatures might be pretty mild, but summer is not far away. You want to know that when that first hot day comes, your air conditioner is up for the task. You can do so by taking the time to prepare your AC for the upcoming cooling season. Here are the key tasks to tackle as a part of that process.

Remove the Cover

It's not a good idea to operate your air conditioner with the cover on. You probably would not do this intentionally, but people have forgotten that their AC was covered and then turned it on, expecting it to work. This can damage the unit. So, it's a good idea to pull the cover off as soon as the weather warms up so you don't have to remember to do it on the first hot day. Plus, this allows the AC unit to air out so any moisture that snuck inside the cover does not contribute to rust development.

Straighten Bent Fins

Are any of the fins on your air conditioner crooked? If so, you will want to straighten them. You can do so with a fin comb, which you can purchase at most home improvement stores. If you do not have a fin comb, you can straighten the fins with a butter knife, but this takes longer as you have to do one fin at a time. Straight fins will allow your AC unit to cool more efficiently and with less wear and tear.

Turn the Power Back On

Sometimes, homeowners will turn the thermostat down, then get really confused or worried when the AC does not kick on. Then, they realize they never turned the power back on. If your AC has a power switch, turn it on now so you're prepared when summer comes. Or, if you flipped the breaker to cut off power to the unit in the fall, flip that same breaker switch back on.

Call for a Tune-Up

Finally, contact a local HVAC company and have them come tune up your air conditioner. They can tighten loose bolts, lubricate belts and other moving components, and make sure you don't need any repairs. It's best to get these things sorted out before cooling season.

If you complete all of these tasks while it is still cool outside, you'll be in a better position once summer comes and it's time to use your AC.

Reach out to an air conditioning contractor in your area to learn more.