With summer days fast approaching, don’t be caught in the rising heat with a broken AC. One of the worst possible scenarios is having a non-functional air conditioner in summer, which is quite possible if you neglect to perform regular maintenance on the HVAC systems.
The following are some of the best HVAC tips for summer that will assist you in surviving through this season.
Top HVAC Tips for Summer
1. Pay Attention to the Filter
One of the easiest but crucial summer HVAC maintenance tips is maintaining a clean filter. The air filter is the backbone of your HVAC unit. And, if in normal circumstances, you do not check on your filter, now is the perfect time to do so.
A dirty filter means an inefficient HVAC unit. This is because the filter is responsible for filtering all the pollutants, contaminants, dust, and debris that might get into the system.
Regularly changing your filter protects your entire system from all these substances and prevents it from polluting your indoors environment. Schedule filter maintenance at least monthly, depending on where you live, to ensure that the component is always clean.
2. Upgrade your Thermostat
Another HVAC tip for summer is changing or upgrading your thermostat. Most homes now have a programmable thermostat that helps control high energy costs and schedules when your cooling systems turn on and off.
If you upgrade to a Wi-Fi model, it can help you access your thermostat remotely via any Internet connection.
3. Examine the Wiring
A poorly connected HVAC system can lead to breakdowns and other complications, so it’s essential that you frequently check on your wiring from time to time to be safe.
Open the access panel after switching off your AC to assess the wiring situation. If you notice anything unusual (blackened/ burned) with the wires, seek assistance from a technician.
4. Clear your Outdoor Areas
Clearing the outside areas is another great summer HVAC maintenance tip. For the outdoor HVAC unit, ensure that the area around it is free and clear from dirt and debris. Clear away any plants or trees that might interfere with your HVAC.
No shrubs should be growing close to your AC unit. Also, ensure that no leaves are near your system, especially during autumn. If you clear all of this ahead of the summer season, the soaring temperatures will not be a bother for you.
5. Take Care of your Vents
When there are no obstructions to the airflow inside the walls of your home, then your HVAC is good to go. You can examine each vent on your own to ensure no visible blockages. Ensure that the vents in the rooms you want to cool are open and remove any visible debris or dust.
This will assist your system in getting equal coverage for every square foot of your home. And it will also improve the functionality of your entire HVAC system.
However, if you notice deeper issues with your vent, call a professional to fix them.
6. Employ Window Treatments
Most homes have numerous windows. This means that during the hot days, more heat gets into your house through the glass from outside. Subsequently, the room becomes hotter and harder to cool, making the HVAC system work even harder.
Investing in high-quality window treatments is a way of offsetting this. They can keep excess heat from entering your house and give your system an easy time cooling the home.
Window treatments can also include low-tech solutions like drapes or blinds. Having them in place prevents the afternoon accumulation of heat during the summer months.
7. Refill the Refrigerant Levels
Refilling your refrigerant is not common, but it’s one of the most crucial HVAC tips for summer. Without enough refrigerant in your system, you can forget about ample cooling of your home.
A refrigerant is responsible for removing the heat from your indoors, subsequently cooling it down. If it runs low, you need to call a technician to check and refill it to the desired levels.
8. Use Fans to Maximize Airflow
If you want to enjoy the air and comfort in your home, ensure that you have different types of fans. Here, you have various alternatives; tabletop, floor, and ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are the best to have in your house, and you should set them to rotate clockwise during the summer season.
Here, the air will flow downwards, preventing excessive heat from rising to the higher levels of your home. When the weather cools off, you will reverse your ceiling fan to rotate in the other direction.
Having smaller types of various fans in your rooms is also a plus. It maximizes the cool air that is in your house.
9. Minimize Heat from other Appliances
Reducing heat from other appliances is one of the simple summer HVAC tips that effectively reduce indoor heat. You achieve this by avoiding big appliances that produce heat throughout the day.
For instance, if you are preparing a huge dinner, use a grill rather than an oven. Using the oven will bring a lot of heat into your home, which only adds more stress to your cooling system.
You can also hang your laundry to scorch outside instead of using a dryer. These practices promote the health of your HVAC unit. They also save you from escalating energy bills.
10. Upgrade your HVAC Unit
If all these tips are still not helping, it is time to upgrade to a new HVAC unit. An older unit may cost you a lot of money annually due to excess waste and cooling loss. The good news about new models is that they are more energy-efficient, helping to lower your energy bills one way or the other.
Conclusion
While these tips are a great way to ensure your systems are running well during the summer, it’s best to have regular maintenance performed by an HVAC professional like Direct Air to ensure your HVAC systems are running optimally all throughout the summer.
A reputable professional can also assist you in upgrading your HVAC system when necessary to get the best value and functions on the market, so that you can enjoy a cool and refreshing summer.
