How To Keep Your AC From Breaking Down This Summer

As Spring reaches its peak, temperatures in Georgia are starting to rise – A clear indicator that Summer is fast approaching, bringing with it intense heat and humidity. While the warmer weather is beneficial for the crops and livestock that flourish in the Peach State, the heat can present some challenges for Georgia homeowners and their family members.

It’s incredibly important that homeowners in Georgia have air conditioning during the warmer months. If the AC unit stops working, the temperatures inside our homes can reach unsafe levels. 

If temperatures are too high, children and seniors are placed at a higher risk for heat-related illnesses, including heat rash, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. To keep your AC unit from experiencing a potential breakdown, here are a couple of things you can do before Summer starts:

Keep Up on Routine Maintenance

Routine maintenance is essential for keeping your AC unit, and specifically, your HVAC system in top-notch condition. Regular maintenance not only lowers the likelihood of future repairs but it also saves homeowners money.

The more efficient your HVAC system is, the less work your AC has to do to keep your home cool, which in turn, lowers energy usage and helps homeowners save on monthly utility bills. Also, routine maintenance adds longevity to your unit, which means you won’t have to replace your unit before it’s time to do so. 

Routine maintenance can be as simple as replacing your air filters. (It is recommended that dirty air filters be changed every one to three months.) However, for other tasks, such as inspections or duct and coil cleanings, you should reach out to a professional HVAC technician for an annual tune-up. 

Additionally, having an HVAC technician perform a tune-up ensures that your AC unit is getting inspected on a frequent basis. Technicians can also perform other services that reduce the likelihood of encountering a broken unit.

These services include:

• Checking your refrigerant levels: Low refrigerant levels can cause your compressor to overheat, which can then cause your AC unit to break
• Testing your thermostat: A faulty thermostat can cause inaccurate readings, making your AC work harder than it should (and can also make your utility bills higher)
• Inspecting your ductwork: Poorly installed ducts or damaged ones can result in leaks, which can reduce efficiency and put pressure on your AC unit

Make Sure Your AC Unit Is Running Efficiently

One way to avoid potential problems with your AC unit is to make sure it's working correctly – and not too hard. Here are a couple of ways you can improve your AC unit’s efficiency:

Ensure Proper Ventilation: 

• Install ceiling fans to keep cool air circulating in the home
• Make sure your vents are open (even in rooms that aren’t being used)
• Check to see if your vents aren’t being obstructed by furniture 
• Open windows at night cool down your home and improve circulation
• Use exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen to remove humid and stagnant air

Keep the sun (and its heat) out with:

• Curtains, blinds or reflective films (these are cost-effective options for blocking out the sun)
•  Shutters, shade trees and awnings (while they are more permanent solutions, they can help mitigate the effects of incoming sunlight)

Keep your home insulated from the elements:

• Inspect your doors and windows for potential drafts (weather stripping or caulk can be used to seal the gaps)
• Make sure your home is properly insulated (insulation holds cool air in while keeping hot air out)

Consider installing a smart thermostat:

• Smart (or programmable) thermostats can regulate your home’s temperature when you're not there

Need To Get Your AC Unit Checked? Give Buzzell a Call!

If your AC unit or HVAC system needs repair, routine maintenance or an inspection, Buzzell Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning is here to help! Located in Warner Robbins and Macon, we proudly serve the middle Georgia area.

Our team of professional HVAC technicians work on all makes, models and styles of cooling equipment. We also perform repairs and installations. To schedule a visit, give our team a call at 478-209-3106.To learn more about our other services, visit our website by clicking the link here.