5 Ways to Prepare Your AC for Warmer Weather

Spring is finally here in North Central Florida. With this season comes blooming flowers, April showers, and, typically, much warmer weather. When the temperatures outside begin to rise, you’ll probably find yourself reaching for the dial on your thermostat more often.

If you haven’t used your AC much throughout the winter, read below for five helpful tips to help you best prepare your system to resume regular use in warm weather.

5 Ways to Prepare Your AC for Warmer Weather

Replace Air Filters

Replacing dirty air filters is often the easiest and most important step in getting your AC system ready this warmer season. If left unchanged, your filters can become clogged, and this can lead to problems throughout your home such as restricted air flow, reduced efficiency, and indoor air pollution.

Clean Condenser Coils

Your central air conditioner’s condenser unit is typically located outdoors. A large fan inside the unit moves air across the condenser coils within. If your unit is left uncovered during the fall and winter, debris like leaves or dirt can fall inside the unit and clog the coils. Anything that obstructs the flow of air will reduce the condenser’s efficiency, and decreased efficiency means your unit is working too hard. If this is the case, you’ll see the consequences on your next energy bill or in the diminishing lifetime of your unit.

To avoid these problems, condenser coils should be cleaned at the beginning of every cooling season.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

You can gain significant energy savings by installing a programmable or smart thermostat. These thermostats are ideal because you can set them to reduce the use of your air conditioner at times when you don’t need it. Typically, these systems are user-friendly and easily installed.

Smart thermostats, especially, are becoming more and more common. They bring a huge convenience factor as many possess the capability to be controlled remotely via a smartphone app. This is perfect for spring break or summer vacations when you don’t want to waste AC while you’re away from home. While you’re away, set your AC to a higher temperature, and when you’re heading back home you can pull up your system on the app and turn the temperature back down to be sure your home is cool and comfortable when you arrive.

Check for Leaky Ductwork

Leaking ducts can be the culprit for energy efficiency and circulation problems within your home. Since ductwork is behind walls it can be difficult to detect potential leaks or damages.

There are some key indicators to look for when you think your ductwork may be causing problems in your home, these include:

• Decreased indoor air quality
• Noticeably poor circulation
• Certain areas of the home are stuffier than others
• Increased energy bills

If you’ve noticed any of these in your home, it may be time to make a service appointment with your HVAC contractor. Leaking ducts can lead to major issues that can be avoided with the proper approach. At Bertie Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer duct sealing solutions to be sure that your ductwork is in its best shape and keeping your home as comfortable as possible.

Have Your AC System Inspected

As the weather gets warmer, you’re going to be turning on your AC more and more often. When you’re using your AC you’ll want to be sure it’s working effectively and efficiently. Regular inspections are the best way to be sure your unit is staying in the best shape possible. Maintenance checks allow your service technician to make any repairs necessary throughout the year. These repairs can protect your investment and prolong your unit’s useful life.

At Bertie Heating & Air Conditioning, we offer a Planned Maintenance Agreement which calls for bi-annual visits from one of our service technicians. You can expect our experts to:

• Clean and inspect the moving parts of your HVAC system
• Check for leaks and other damages
• Clear and check any drains
• Test wiring and other electrical components
• Apply protective coating to outer unit
• And more!

Bertie Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help You Get Ready for Warmer Weather

At Bertie Heating & Air Conditioning, we have more than 20 years of experience serving the Gainesville area. Twenty years in Gainesville means that we know the heat summertime brings, and we know how to prepare your AC unit to make sure you stay as comfortable as possible. Whether you need major repairs, ductwork inspection, or routine maintenance, our team at Bertie is ready to help you prepare for a Florida summer. Fill out a contact form or give us a call today! (352) 331-2005