Some like it hot…
Being HOT even has its limits on comfort sometimes. The months of June, July, and August in Melbourne, Florida see average temperatures as hot as 90 degrees Fahrenheit! When you combine these elevated temperatures with the humid subtropical climate of this eastern Florida city, you’re left with a hot and sticky body in much need of cooling off. After a nice hot day, out at the Brevard Zoo, you probably do not want to come home to a poorly functioning air conditioner.
To avoid the problem of needing a repair or AC replacement, follow these tips to keep your system running cool in the scorching summer months.
Tips to keep your AC running smooth
Change or clean your filters
Make sure to check your filter every month in order to avoid the buildup of dust, dirt, and pet hair. An obstructed filter will decrease airflow significantly and cause additional problems down the line. Extra dirt and dust may flow past the obstructed filter collecting in the tubing and end up stuck on the evaporator coil, diminishing the cooling power of your air conditioner. If you find an excessive amount of dirt or dust built up, make sure to clean or change your filter.
Clean and straighten the fins
The delicate vertical columns of thin metal fins outside of your air conditioner coils are prone to collecting small pieces of debris and dirt. To clean these fins on the outdoor portion of the unit, take off the associated grating or caging that surrounds the unit, and remove or open the lid to the air conditioner. Clean the fins from the inside out using a garden hose or specifically designed fin cleaner. After this is complete, you will need to check for bent fins. A bent fin will impair airflow throughout the unit, so it is important to straighten them with a special fin comb that can be found in most hardware stores.
Check and clean the evaporator coil
For the indoor portion of the air conditioner, you will need to remove the cover that contains the evaporator coil. While having a clean filter will prevent most debris from getting through to the evaporator coils of the air conditioning unit, some will inevitably get through and collect. Be sure to check and clean (if need be) the evaporator coil after cleaning its associated fins.
Chill out
Before you decide to cave in and purchase a new unit from a wholesale air conditioner shop or big box hardware store, try these simple tips to save yourself some money and energy.