5 Things You Should Know About Your AC System
Let’s say you’re having a new in-ground pool installed. Here’s your plan: hire a contractors to install and landscape around it, thank them for their time and send them on their way.
When they offer – perhaps even insist – on giving you “proper care” instruction, you simply say “no thanks, we’ve got this.” The problem is you probably don’t. Even if this isn’t your first pool. Because as something less than a pool professional, there’s always the chance something can go wrong that you’re not prepared for and may not even recognize the warning signs.
Sounds absurd, right? Well, that’s how most homeowners are when it comes to their central AC systems. It gets installed, you say thanks, turn on the thermostat, sit back and enjoy. And yet by understanding its basic operation and a few self-maintenance tips, you can increase the value you receive from central air several times over.
Clean or replace the filter. Every AC system has one, and it’s located in the air handler. Here in New England, most often it’s installed in the attic. To help maintain peak performance you need to clean or replace the filter regularly to prevent clogged dirt and dust from restricting air flow and forcing your system to work harder to achieve the same result.
Keep the condenser clean. This is your system’s outdoor component, one that’s all too easy to get caked up with grass clippings, leaves, dirt, and other obstructive elements. Periodically use a water hose with the spray nozzle to rinse the sides off starting at the top and working your way down. Turn off the power first.
Thermostat setting. Do not set your thermostat below 70 degrees as it won’t cool your home any faster and could cause the system to freeze up.
Water leak. If you see water leaking from an outdoor pipe, it means there’s most likely a problem with the drain inside the condenser and that water is traveling through the emergency drain system. Should that happen, call for service.
New plantings. Plant new bushes at least 24-36 inches from the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit needs to “breathe” freely without any hindrance. If you already have bushes planted around the condenser, be sure to keep them trimmed to allow the recommended clearance.
And then there are numerous other AC problems that you can’t anticipate or be expected to properly diagnose. All you know is that the cool air is gone or not as cool as before. Any time that happens, one call to Correct Temp is all it takes to get the matter resolved to your complete satisfaction. In fact, we guarantee it.