Summer Allergies? Maybe It’s Time To Clean Your AC Components
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Summer allergies? Some of those sunny-day sneezes and stuffy heads may be coming from your AC unit. Summers in North Texas take a heavy toll on your HVAC system, and homeowners often forget to keep up with maintenance. Now that the hottest part of the season is upon us, it’s the perfect time to get on top of keeping that all-important equipment clean and efficient.
Here are some tips from the home inspectors on how to keep HVAC components clean this summer.
Clean Your Compressor
The inspectors see more compressors that look like this than they do clean ones. And I’m pretty sure those are some feathers up top, which is sort of upsetting…
Spray the fins with a hose (NOT your power washer) and remove the outer casing. If the evaporator coils look dirty, the best option is to have your AC serviced by a professional. But if you want to do it yourself, you can follow the directions here.
Change the Filter
Changing the filter in your HVAC unit regularly may be the advice I’ve repeated most often in this column. But it bears repeating because of situations like what’s pictured above. You could lose a small pet in that air filter.
For the record, you are supposed to change air filters like this one every 30 to 90 days, not once a generation.
Have Your AC Serviced
If you ever want to take a look at what you’re breathing (apart from what the filter has caught when you change it), take the cover off a return vent and see what’s happening inside the ducts. This is what one of our inspectors saw at a recent inspection. It’s safe to say this system was not recently serviced. Not only is this type of buildup terrible for your health, it’s also bad for the efficiency of the system, which means it’s making your bills higher, your house hotter, and reducing the life of your equipment. We recommend you have your HVAC systems serviced once a year.
The bottom line is, a clean AC is a happy AC, and a happy AC means a happy, healthy family. If you have questions about AC repair, check your home warranty plan first, then call your preferred AC repair person.
