4 Tips to Prepare for Air Conditioning Season

Summer may feel like it’s a long time off away. But before you realize, you’ll be switching from heating to cooling. Soon enough your air conditioner is running regularly to maintain cool temperatures. It’s smart to prep for the extra usage before temperatures heat up. 

Broad Ripple Service Experts and our team of Experts can assist you. We’ve designed our all-inclusive air conditioning memberships to boost your system’s energy efficiency and trustworthiness. Our professional skill goes a long way, but there are a lot of other tasks you can do to protect your air conditioner. Here are four of the best ways you can get ready for air conditioning season. 

1. Clean Your Air Conditioner

Don’t fret, you won’t have to disassemble your system and clean every part. Our Experts do this during your yearly air conditioning maintenance appointment. 

But cleaning the space around your air conditioner will go a long way as well. We advise: 

• Getting rid of twigs, leaves and grass clippings from the outside of your air conditioner. 
• Keeping surrounding grass and plants trimmed back. 
• Maintaining at minimum 1 foot of open room on all sides around your air conditioner. 

If your air conditioner’s fins get clogged with dirt or yard refuse, this can affect performance and comfort. Your air conditioner will have to run more often to provide the same level of comfort. In bad cases, it may stop running altogether and need air conditioning repair. 

Your comfort and satisfaction are our priority, so we like to minimize the likelihood of repairs in the first place. A well-maintained air conditioner usually cools more efficiently, is less likely to malfunction and typically lasts longer. 

2. Change Your Air Filter

Routinely replacing your air filter is critical for your air conditioner’s well-being. During a maintenance visit, our pros check filters and install new ones if needed. Putting in a new filter is speedy and straightforward. You can (and should) do it on your own whenever! 

How frequently you need to get a new filter depends on: 

• The kind of filter you use. 
• If someone in your household has asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems. 

• If you have pets. 

Basic flat filters usually last for 30–60 days. Thicker pleated filters can last up to 90 days. If you don’t know if your filter should be replaced, take it out, and angle it toward the light. Put in a new one if you can’t see light through it. 

Filters catch dust, pollen and other pollutants from your house’s air, keeping airflow healthy. Neglecting it will impact your house’s indoor air quality and your air conditioner’s efficiency. 

In some instances a dirty filter could even damage your system or cause it to malfunction. Often replacing it will keep the inside of your air conditioner cleaner and airflow more balanced. 

If someone in your home has allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems, check with our Experts about how a HEPA filter can relieve symptoms. 

3. Test Your Thermostat and Smoke Detectors

Now is a great time to check other important pieces of your air conditioner and other safety systems. 

If you have a programmable thermostat, check that it’s working like it should. If the batteries are getting low, replace them. 

For added control and convenience, think over installing a smart thermostat. They make conserving energy simpler. And a few models can even tell you if there’s an issue with your air conditioner or if your air filter needs replacing. 

Although they’re not part of your air conditioning system, now is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Confirming they still have juice gives peace of mind and an additional layer of safety. 

4. Keep Heat Where it Belongs

One of the wisest ways to boost energy-efficient cooling is to reduce the amount of outside heat seeping into your house. Using good window treatments such as blackout curtains, honeycomb shades or plantation shutters, can block the sun from affecting interior temperatures. 

Here are several other methods to keep your house cold without adjusting the thermostat: 

• Turn on ceiling fans when you’re in the room. 
• Use your bathroom fan to eliminate heat and humidity when you shower. 

• Keep air vents clean to ensure ample airflow. 
• Install caulk and weatherstripping to seal your doors and windows. 

Rely on Broad Ripple Service Experts for Skilled Air Conditioning Maintenance

Our checklist will help your air conditioner operate better this summer. But the wisest way you can increase efficiency is with air conditioning maintenance. Some perks of this service involve: 

• Stress-free cooling. 

• Potentially cheaper cooling costs. 
• Likely increasing your air conditioner’s life span. 
• Keeping your valuable manufacturer’s warranty ongoing. 

Make sure your air conditioning is ready for this summer! Contact the heating and cooling Experts at Broad Ripple Service Experts now! Call us at 317-527-0271 to book your maintenance appointment or to learn more about our HVAC membership plans.