Spring has arrived — time to fling open the windows, let the fresh air in and the stale air out of your home. The grass needs cutting, the weeds need pulling and it’s the perfect time for a system checkup on your air conditioner before the hot, humid air arrives. With just a little A/C maintenance, your air conditioner will run efficiently, cost less to run and keep your family cool and comfortable. As a homeowner, here are a few parts of your cooling system you can inspect and fix:

• Filter: A dirty filter will slow the air movement to the evaporator coils, which will decrease the amount of cool air moving through your system. If the filter is blocked, pollutants, dust or pollen will enter your unit, collect on the coils and circulate into your rooms. Irritants such as pollen may aggravate family members with allergies or asthma. Many filters can be cleaned and reused, but if the filter is old and damaged, replace it with a new one.
• Condenser: It is important to eliminate any shrubs or plants surrounding the condenser so air flows freely to and from the unit. Remove debris such as leaves, grass and insects that have collected on the unit and clean the coils and fins. Gently spray the condenser and fins with a hose to remove excess dirt.
• Condensate drain: The drain carries excess water away from the evaporator to the outdoors. If the drain becomes blocked, this water will evaporate and raise the humidity levels in your home. If the condensate pan is overflowing, check for a blockage in the drain. Certified technicians have specials tools to open blocked drains.

These tasks a homeowner can do, but preventive a/c maintenance performed by a professional technician will guarantee an extensive inspection of your equipment, including refrigerant levels, coils, electric components and ductwork.

For more expert advice about A/C maintenance and other issues related to home comfort and energy savings, please feel free to contact us Smoky Mountain Heating & Air. We proudly serve Asheville and the surrounding areas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioner maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Smoky Mountain Heating & Air services Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!