Is Your Air Conditioner Ready for the Summer Heat?

Summer should be spent relaxing, swimming, and catching some rays, not wondering if your air conditioning unit can handle the heat. In Northwest Arkansas the first real stretch of hot, sticky weather tends to arrive fast, and that is usually when a neglected system gives out. A little attention in spring makes a real difference, and most of it you can do yourself in an afternoon.

Check and change your air filters

Your filter collects dust, pet hair, allergens, and other particles. As it clogs, it blocks airflow through the home and makes the air conditioner work harder than it needs to. Check your filters once a month and replace them as needed, and do a fresh check before the heat hits. A quick test is to hold the filter up to a light; if you cannot see light through it, it is time for a new one. Write the size on the frame so the right replacement is easy to buy.

Make sure the unit is not blocked

The outdoor unit needs to pull in a lot of air to release heat. Landscaping, fences, stored items, or debris crowded around it can choke that airflow. The recommendation is to keep landscaping 2 to 4 feet away from the unit so normal airflow is maintained. Trim back shrubs, clear leaves and grass clippings, and do not stack anything against the cabinet. After spring storms, look for sticks and cottonwood fluff stuck to the coil, and rinse the fins gently from the outside with a garden hose after turning the unit off at its disconnect. Avoid a pressure washer, which can bend the fins.

Weatherize your home

All that cold air does you no good if it leaks out. Caulk and seal air leaks, and add weather-stripping around doors and windows. Check the places where pipes, wires, and vents pass through walls, and look at the door to the attic or garage. Sealing these gaps helps the house hold its temperature and keeps humid outdoor air from slipping in.

A short list to run through this weekend

• Replace or inspect the indoor filter.
• Clear 2 to 4 feet of space around the outdoor unit and remove debris from the top.
• Set the thermostat to cool and let the system run for a few minutes. Check that the air from the vents feels cold and that the outdoor fan spins.
• Look at the drain line and the area around the indoor unit for water, stains, or ice.
• Listen for grinding, rattling, or squealing, and note anything that is new this year.

Call an HVAC professional

If you want to avoid the hassle and feel more confident that your system is ready for the heat, let Allied take care of it. Call and Allied will send out one of its HVAC experts to do a base inspection and evaluate your system's health and overall performance. Allied's A-Team memberships also include one scheduled cooling tune-up and one heating tune-up per year, with 1-inch disposable pleated filters included in each tune-up. A-Team Red is $198 for one residential location and one HVAC system.

Warning signs worth a call before summer include warm air from the vents, ice on the lines, odd noises, water around the indoor unit, or energy bills that climb without any change in how you use the system. Catching a small problem in spring is easier than waiting for a breakdown on the hottest day of July.

To schedule an inspection, call Allied Plumbing Air & Electric in Springdale on (479) 278-4508.