Tips & Tricks From the Pros: Preparing Your Illinois AC Unit For Summer
We’ve already had a taste of summer, and it’s a matter of time before summer’s heat and humidity settle in and have people hiding out in the AC. The last thing you want is a central AC unit that’s malfunctioning on the hottest day of the year.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Chicago was 105ºF and 109ºF in Midway, both in 1934. However, the city did experience 100-degree weather in 2023. It could be another scorcher, and Air Blue has tips to help you stay cool this summer and make sure your AC is in great shape.
Keep Up With Routine Maintenance
Schedule professional maintenance each year. You want an AC technician to check your system to make sure it’s pressurized correctly, that nothing sounds wrong, or that you have loose wiring that’s impacting its function.
A technician will clean the coils, make sure there are no leaks, and verify that the thermostat is working correctly. If something is wrong, you’ll know and have a chance to make repairs before your system fails. Your technician may also change the filter if you haven’t already. You need to take care of that yourself, however.
Every three to five years, have your ducts professionally cleaned and inspected. If there are any signs of cracks or holes, you want to have them fixed to prevent the loss of cold or warm air into your walls, attic, or crawl space. They will also be inspected for signs of mold and mildew during this visit. If there are problems, get them fixed before the mold spores make you sick.
Get expert advice when it’s time to replace your old system. You do have to spend money on the installation and new system, but the savings in energy often help recover the amount you pay. Plus, there are energy tax credits and instant rebates from state and federal government agencies that make a new AC very affordable.
Don’t Overlook the Things You Should Be Doing Yourself
Some aspects of AC maintenance are things you should do on your own. Clean your outdoor unit. Make sure shrubs and garden plants are several feet or farther from the unit. Remove weeds, grass clippings, and leaves from the vents on the condenser. Check that pollen, dust, and dirt haven’t built up on the coils. If the coils are coated, use a garden hose to spray them off.
Inside the home, do the same with the air vents. Check for dust and pet hair. If there is a build-up of either, use a vacuum with an upholstery brush attachment to clean them off. If that’s not good enough, remove them by taking out the screws, wash them off, dry them thoroughly, and reattach them.
Check the air filter each month. If there’s dust, hair, and dirt coating it, it’s overdue for a replacement. Ideally, you want to change that filter every couple of months, but this depends on how many people are in your home, what you cook often, and how many pets you have. Some homes are just dustier, too, as the outdoor soil is sandy and drier than you’d like.
Finally, make sure your thermostat is accurate. Have an indoor thermometer set up something near the thermostat, There may be a couple of degrees in difference, but your indoor thermometer shouldn’t be at 85ºF while your thermostat reads 75ºF, unless that indoor thermometer is in the sun or over something that generates heat, such as a coffeemaker.
Save Money With These Tips & Tricks
What other tips help you reduce energy bills and improve how well your AC cools your home this summer? Check your doors and windows for leaks. When you have your AC turned on and your home is cool, feel around the edges of your doors and windows. Do you feel warm air coming in? If so, you have an air leak that can be corrected with new weatherstripping and caulk.
Invest in a smart thermostat. It learns your habits and raises and lowers the temperature to match your patterns. If you leave home for work each day at 7 a.m., your AC system can turn up to 80ºF while you’re at work. Before you arrive home, your system can have your home cooled back down to your preferred temperature. When possible, stick to no lower than 78ºF to reduce your carbon footprint.
When you purchase air filters, make sure you’re choosing the correct option for your system. If it’s too restrictive, you make your system work harder, which increases energy consumption.
Learn to Be Strategic When It Comes to Home Décor
Ceiling fans are essential when you’re running air conditioners. A ceiling fan helps distribute the cold air to ensure equal cooling around the home. If you don’t have ceiling fans, don’t worry. Use a floor fan or box fan to help move the air around. We’ve even found some air purifiers do a great job of removing additional pollen, dust, and allergens from the home while also circulating the air.
During the day, use windows that face north for natural lighting. Close up the windows facing south. We love light-blocking honeycomb shades as they’re easy to use. They don’t have to have cords. Plus, they contain air pockets that prevent the loss of cold or hot air depending on the season. As the sun moves, pull down the shades on windows facing north and open the shades on south-facing windows.
If you have patio doors, blinds help keep the sun out. You might want to look for an awning to help shade the door during the sunniest times of the day. A roof or pergola over your patio can also help shade your home when it’s sunny.
You might love dark colors, but so does the sun. The sun’s solar heat transfer can take place as the UV rays heat up dark furniture, flooring, and walls in your home. That item then releases heat for a while, which increases the temperature in your home. Light walls and furnishings help your home stay cooler.
With the tips from Air Blue, you stay cool and comfortable throughout the summer. Save money, avoid stress, and know we’re here to help you if something does go wrong.
You can only do so much to keep your AC keeping your household cool. There are times when you need to call in a professional. Air Blue’s technicians are fully trained, insured, and ready to help you keep your system in prime working order. Reach us online or by phone to schedule a visit or learn more.
