The Summer Heat Is Here: Is Your AC Up to the Task?

We’re on the brink of summer, and long stretches of warm weather lie ahead. To prepare for sweltering days and windless nights, use the remaining days of spring to make sure your air conditioner is in good shape.

By assessing your AC now, you can avoid any failures or repairs down the line that could affect the quality of your cooling system and put you out of complete comfort for a few days.

Here is what our experts at Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical recommend doing before the summer heat hits.

Arrange an Inspection

Don’t see any irrefutable signs of damage or malfunction with your cooling system? That’s great!

However, it’s still important to book a yearly inspection, and there’s no better time to do it than right before summer.

Setting up regular tune-ups and maintenance checks allows professionals to identify any potential issues before they get worse.

Alternatively, if you do notice irregularities such as negligible cooling impact or odd noises, make sure you book an appointment right away.

Our team is well-equipped to accurately identify many of the common problems with AC units.

Whether the problem lies in your condenser coils, air filter, thermostat, or drainage, we can recognize and fix it within an efficient timeframe.

Know When to Retire Your Unit

If your unit is reaching close to 10 years of age and you need to have it fixed anyway, this is a good time to consider replacement instead of reparation.

Likewise, if your unit seems to be in good condition but is more than 10 years old, it’s high time for a replacement.

Newer units are designed to save energy, work more efficiently, and use a more environmentally friendly refrigerant.

It might seem counterintuitive to replace a unit before it breaks down, but doing so can help you conserve costs and help you dodge expensive maintenance costs down the road.

A unit that has passed its shelf life is considerably higher maintenance and more likely to run into mechanical issues than a modern system.

Save Money by Setting the Thermostat Strategically

It’s easy to get accustomed to a constant stream of refreshing, icy air blasting through your home all summer.

But if you can stand to, set the thermostat higher when you’re out of the house or asleep.

If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to stay cool when you’re at home and operate at higher temperatures when you’re not.

You can also save on cooling costs by making sure your home is well sealed.

You can perform a DIY or professional energy audit to identify areas of air loss in your home using a thermographic camera.

Doing so will allow you to seal up any leaks and avoid losing precious cool air.

Lastly, make sure your thermostat is not placed too close to a hot window or door or on the hotter side of the house.

This can cause your air conditioner to take effect more frequently than necessary because the house appears hotter than it really is.

Our heating and cooling experts can advise you on optimal thermostat placement.