In just a few short weeks, it’ll be summer here in Northern Virginia. Most residents are eagerly anticipating the abundant sunshine summer has in store, especially after one of the most brutal winters in recent memory. Eventually, however, you’ll eventually get weary of all the sun and heat, which probably means you’ll be heading back inside and turning up your air conditioners.
Your A/C is an important part of your home’s heating and cooling system, especially during Virginia’s humid summers. With that in mind, you want to do everything you can to keep your
A/C in top condition for as long as you can. Luckily, doing just that is easy enough. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Stay in the Shade
Most A/Cs have their bodies sticking out of the house. This means your unit has to work twice as hard to cool the air it blows into your home because its body is exposed to the heat outside. Make its job easier by planting a shrub or a tree to shade the exterior portion of your unit. Keep the foliage at least a foot and a half away from your unit though so that it doesn’t block airflow.
Hose it Down
Ideally, you should clean out your A/C’s filters every month, although how often you should depends on the type of filter your unit uses. If you use HEPA or electrostatic filters, you can easily clean them by taking them outside and hosing them down at medium pressure. Dust and debris are sure to come off in no time.
Aside from these tips, make sure you have an experienced air conditioning contractor service your unit once a year. Pros can help spot and fix warning signs before they become huge headaches. Ideally, this should be done during the last few weeks of spring.
