How to Prepare Your AC for Warmer Weather: A Homeowner’s Guide

Although summer in Abington often seems far away, sunny days and hot temperatures tend to arrive suddenly. By following an AC maintenance checklist in the spring, you can prepare your cooling system and household for the summer, optimize energy efficiency, and ensure reliable comfort during the hottest days. See our air conditioner maintenance guide to learn how to keep your system running smoothly and when to schedule a professional AC tune-up.

Why Spring AC Maintenance Matters

Seasonal AC maintenance services keep your cooling running smoothly when you need it most. Without proper maintenance, air conditioners lose efficiency and become prone to breakdowns. Here’s why you should plan for spring HVAC tune-ups ahead of the summer.

Prevent Emergency Breakdowns

A neglected AC is more likely to fail during peak summer temperatures when it becomes strained under heavy demand. With system failures commonly occurring due to neglected components, such as clogged air filters, refrigerant leaks, and dirty evaporator coils, many AC breakdowns and emergencies are preventable. Addressing these issues ahead of the summer helps you avoid interruptions in your cooling.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Dirt buildup, worn-out components, and other problems make your AC work harder to provide the same amount of cooling. With parts in good condition, however, well-maintained ACs operate efficiently, reducing energy consumption, minimizing strain and wear, and lowering cooling costs.

Extend System Lifespan

When underlying inefficiencies and dirt buildup strain and excessively wear the compressor, blower motor, evaporator coil, and other important parts, your system will likely fail several years earlier than its expected lifespan. Regular AC upkeep prevents undue wear on components, which helps to slow your system’s aging and potentially prolong its operating life.

Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Your AC for Summer

Homeowners can handle many basic AC tasks, such as changing air filters and cleaning the compressor unit, while more complex maintenance should be left to HVAC professionals. Follow these AC efficiency tips for summer to get your system ready and maximize its cooling performance.

Check and Replace Air Filters

Air filters trap dust, pet dander, and other airborne particles, preventing them from settling inside your AC system and circulating throughout your home. Over time, air filters become clogged, restricting airflow and straining the AC system.

Inspect and replace your air filter periodically, approximately every 30 to 90 days, depending on household pets, allergies, and other indoor air quality factors. Refer to the old air filter, your owner’s manual, or an HVAC technician to select a replacement filter that’s compatible with your system to optimize indoor air quality and airflow.

Inspect and Clean the Outdoor Unit

Your outdoor AC unit is one of the most important parts of your system, and even a few stray branches or leaves can impede its function or damage its components. Debris accumulated on top and around the unit, for example, can restrict airflow and lead to overheating, component damage, and system failure.

Regularly check the outdoor compressor unit. With the AC off, clear leaves, twigs, dirt, and other debris from around the unit to allow for at least two feet of clearance. Leave more in-depth cleaning to an HVAC technician — condenser coils, capacitors, fan blades, and other parts are easily damaged without proper handling by a professional.

Check Thermostat Settings

Checking thermostat settings before the summer helps maintain indoor comfort while preventing unnecessary AC strain and energy consumption. The Department of Energy recommends keeping your home between 75 and 78 degrees during the day. If you have a smart thermostat, your settings can also activate a slightly higher set point, about 83 to 85 degrees, when nobody is home to minimize wear on your AC.

To test your thermostat settings and verify accurate temperature readings, set the thermostat to cooling mode and lower the temperature about 5 degrees less than the current room temperature. Listen for the AC to start within a minute to confirm, then return your thermostat settings to normal.

Inspect Air Ducts and Vents

Leaky or blocked ductwork reduces efficiency by letting conditioned air escape before reaching its destination, causing uneven cooling and accounting for up to 30% in extra cooling costs. Excessive humidity and dust likewise impede airflow and indoor air quality, and closed or blocked vents imbalance ductwork air pressure and strain your system. Inspect air ducts for:

• Visible gaps or disconnected sections.
• Cracks or holes.
• Dust or debris.
• Furniture, rugs, or other obstructions over vents.
• Weak airflow from vents.

Ductwork-specific tape or sealant can address minor duct damage — refer to a technician for more extensive problems. Excessive dust or restricted airflow may necessitate professional duct cleaning.

Test the System Before Peak Heat

Identify air conditioner issues before the summer with a few test cooling cycles. Turn the AC on and let it run for 15 to 30 minutes as you monitor its performance. Verify that your system cools quickly and evenly, runs quietly, and doesn’t emit strange odors.

When to Schedule Professional AC Maintenance

Schedule professional AC maintenance at least once per year, ideally in the spring and before peak cooling demand in the summer. Scheduling maintenance before summer allows technicians to identify and fix potential problems before they escalate into AC damage and breakdowns.

Other signs that your AC is due for maintenance include:

• Insufficient or uneven cooling.
• Constant running or frequent cycling.
• Grinding, buzzing, rattling, and other abnormal sounds.
• Strange odors, such as burning or mildew.
• Inexplicably higher energy bills.

Get Your AC Summer-Ready with Chud Cooling & Heating

Enjoy consistent and energy-efficient comfort this summer with just a few proactive AC tune-up steps in the spring, including scheduling professional maintenance with Chud Cooling and Heating. Contact us or schedule online today — with comprehensive inspections and tune-ups, we optimize your AC system’s reliability, efficiency, and longevity.