As the days get longer and the weather warms up a bit you may be dreaming of the upcoming Iowa summer. While we still have a while to go, this is the time to start thinking about air conditioner preparation and maintenance.
How to Prepare Your Furnace for Warmer Weather
Before retiring your heater for the season and turning on the A/C, there are a couple of steps you can take to put your furnace and home in the best position for next fall.
Turn Off Your Furnace
The most important and most obvious step in switching from your furnace to your A/C is to turn off your furnace. Most modern heating systems can be turned off straight from the thermostat, but if you have an older model you may have to turn off the gas supply. Reference your owners manual to see how to shut off your specific unit.
Change the Furnace Filter
One of the first things you can do is switch out your furnace filter. Doing this ensures that your system is in the best position to run at full efficiency, and any of that old debris and dust does not continue to grow bacteria over the warmer seasons.
Clear the Air Ducts
It’s also important to think about scheduling professional duct cleaning. This is another source of possible mold, dust, and debris that can lead to respiratory infections, worsen allergies, cause dry or itchy skin, amongst other health side effects that can result from long-term exposure.
How to Prepare Your A/C for Warmer Weather
Now that you have serviced your furnace, it’s time to focus on your central air unit. There are a few steps you can take to ensure your air conditioning system is in the best position to work for your family in the upcoming spring and summer seasons.
Clear the A/C Unit
When preparing to switch to your heater at the beginning of the winter season you should have put a cover or guard over your outdoor unit. Take the cover off of your central air unit and clean any debris that may have made its way underneath and around it, making sure there are no obstructions. This is an ideal time to inspect for any visible damage to your unit.
Resolve Any Existing Issues
Were there any issues with your a/c last season that went unresolved? It is best to address any problems as soon as possible to avoid emergencies in the middle of the smoldering summer or to combat any potential backlogs with service companies. Was your air conditioner blowing warm air? Was it banging, knocking, clicking, squealing, or making any out-of-the-ordinary sounds? Are there any visible burns on your unit? These are just a few signs it may be time to call in an HVAC technician before regularly using your central air.
If there are no apparent issues with your unit, it is still beneficial to call in a technician for your annual maintenance. Prioritizing annual maintenance is a sure way to uncover any problems that may not be visible on the surface and prolong the life of your unit.
Test Your Unit
Once you have done all the preparation, it is time to test out your A/C unit. It’s best practice to ease into the switch from your furnace to your A/C, so as not to shock your systems.
Start by setting your air conditioner just a few degrees above the current temperature of your home. It may take a few seconds to kick on. Step outside to your outdoor unit to gauge that it is on and running. Once you’ve established the outdoor unit is going, step back inside and verify that cool air is coming in through your vents. Let your A/C run a full cycle before adjusting the temperature again.
If everything is running properly then you’re set for the upcoming season! We recommend doing this test cycle ahead of when it’s necessary for your family’s needs so that you can schedule any necessary repairs, if they arise, ahead of time.
Des Moines A/C Repair & Maintenance
Wyckoff Heating and Cooling has been helping homeowners with their heating and cooling needs for over 70 years. If you need assistance with replacing filters, maintenance, or emergency repairs let us help!