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Are you looking for ways to keep your cooling costs lower this summer? A little bit of air conditioning maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your home cooler, and lowers the chances of needing emergency air conditioning repair. Keep reading to learn some valuable AC maintenance tips for summer.

Schedule Preventive Maintenance

Before summer gets into full swing, schedule a maintenance service call with your expert HVAC technicians. Do this early in the season when technicians are less busy. Once the summer heat settles in, it’s harder to schedule appointments because technicians are handling emergency service calls.

Change Your Air Filter

One ac maintenance task that everyone has the skills to do is changing the air filter. HVAC filters get clogged with dirt and dust particles and make it harder for the air conditioner to cool your home effectively. This means your air conditioner is using more energy to do the same amount of work. Filters should be changed every 30-90 days, depending on the type of filter you use.

Clear the Drainage Line

Moisture from your air conditioner is removed through a small drain pipe. It’s not unusual for this pipe to become congested from debris. If you notice your home feels sticky even when the air conditioner is running well, the reason could be a clogged drainage line. When the line is blocked, it can’t remove the humidity from the indoor air as well.

You can clear the drainage line yourself by using a shop vac. Place the shop vac’s suction extension over the drainage line and let it pull out the debris. When you’re done, sanitize the line to get rid of algae or mold growth. Use a small amount of bleach and pour it in the line.

Check the Condenser Unit for Debris

Your home’s air conditioner has two parts: an indoor part and an outdoor part. The outdoor part is called the condenser. It draws warm air away from the house and consists of a blower and fans. Because this unit is outside, it’s susceptible to blockage caused from debris getting caught in the fan blades. Grass clippings, leaves, nests, and other nature-related debris can easily get trapped in the unit. The ideal way to make sure the condenser unit stays clean is to hose it down once a week. If you include this as part of your weekly lawn care routine, it’s easy to stay on top of. Also, inspect the unit for damage, especially after severe weather such as hail storms.

Saving money on cooling costs during the summer is a priority for most people. With regular air conditioning maintenance you can achieve this goal easier than you imagine. Also, remember, if you had problems last year with your air conditioning unit and you didn’t get them fixed, they’re going to be with you this year too. Call for repair service now to make sure you’re not scrambling to find emergency service when the temperatures soar. For local air conditioning services in Clearwater, FL, contact Cox Air at 727-442-6158.