How to Prepare Your AC for a Pacific Northwest Summer
Summer weather has arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Is your AC system ready?
With temperatures climbing across Washington, Oregon, and Montana this month, your AC unit may already be running—but that doesn’t mean it is ready for summer. It may give you temporary relief from 80-90°F temperatures, but it doesn’t guarantee smooth operation over the next several months.
There are several steps you can take to prepare your cooling system for hot weather. Whether you are in areas of high humidity along the I-5 corridor or in the high desert of Montana, a little AC summer tune-up now can spare you the inconvenience of costly repairs or a system breakdown in the summer.
Find an HVAC Professional through Bryant Northwest
At Bryant Northwest, we want to help keep your AC system running strong this summer.
As a homeowner, you can participate directly in seasonal HVAC maintenance by taking on a few do-it-yourself (DIY) tasks, while leaving the professional work to our Bryant Northwest network. Our online directory includes dozens of Bryant dealers throughout Washington, Oregon, and Montana to assist with HVAC repairs, installation, and maintenance.
If you are ready to schedule a preseason AC inspection and tune-up, now’s the time to select a Bryant dealer near you. In the meantime, let’s walk through this step-by-step guide to prepping your AC unit for summer. It includes DIY tasks, as well as a professional tune-up checklist.
Step 1: DIY Tasks to Maintain Your AC
Before calling in the pros, take a few DIY steps to improve cooling efficiency and protect your equipment.
Start by clearing the leaves, twigs, and other debris that have accumulated around your outdoor condenser unit over the winter. Your AC needs room to exhaust heat effectively. Clear a two-foot radius around the unit. Trim back any encroaching shrubs or low-hanging branches that could restrict airflow or fall into the fan blades during a summer storm.
Next, head indoors and check your air filter. If you haven’t changed your filter since the heating season ended, do it now. During summer’s peak, check it every 30 days. You are looking for dirt and clogs that constrict the airflow to your HVAC unit, forcing the blower motor to work harder and reducing indoor air quality (IAQ).
Standard filters with lower efficiency ratings typically last 30 to 90 days before they need replacement. High-efficiency filters can last from six months to one year. Ask your local Bryant dealer whether your HVAC system can handle upgrading from a standard to a high-efficiency filter to improve indoor air.
While inside your home, check every supply and return air vent to ensure nothing is blocking airflow. Move all obstructions. When vents are blocked, the pressure in your ductwork can shift, leading to frozen coils or cycling issues.
If you haven’t turned your AC unit on since last summer, now’s the time to give it a test run. Listen for odd sounds, notice unusual smells, and feel the airflow coming through each vent. It should be cool and strong. If you notice any issues, call your local Bryant dealer for an inspection and diagnosis.
Step 2: The Professional Tune-up Checklist
Bryant Northwest dealers follow a comprehensive checklist to clean, lubricate, test, and inspect your AC.
Coil Cleaning
Your outdoor condenser coils and indoor evaporator coils are the heart of the heat transfer process. Even a thin layer of dust can insulate the coils, making it significantly harder for the system to remove heat from your home. During a maintenance visit, ask your Bryant professional to clean the coils, boosting your system’s efficiency.
Verifying the Refrigerant Level
If the refrigerant level is low, it’s almost always due to a leak. Running a system without sufficient refrigerant can overheat the compressor, leading to an expensive repair or replacement.
A technician will locate and seal any leaks before recharging the system to factory specifications.
Electrical and Safety Checks
Pros will tighten all wire connections, inspect capacitors for signs of wear, and calibrate the thermostat.
Inspecting and Lubricating
Technicians lubricate moving parts to ensure everything spins freely. They also inspect the condensate drain line and remove clogs that can lead to water damage inside your home.
Step 3: Maximizing Cooling Efficiency
After your system is prepped and tuned, you can enhance your comfort and lower your bills with these tips:
Don’t Fidget With the Thermostat
Constantly adjusting the thermostat actually uses more energy. Find a comfortable temperature and leave it there.
Run Ceiling Fans
Because ceiling fans rotate counter-clockwise in the summer, they create a wind-chill effect that makes you to feel several degrees cooler without lowering the AC setting. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says you can increase the thermostat setting by 4°F without reducing comfort.
Manage Solar Heat
Prevent the sun from heating your home by closing the blinds or curtains on south-facing windows. This simple cooling trick takes a massive load off your air conditioner.
Prepare Your AC for the Cooling Season Now
HVAC schedules are filling fast as the warmer-than-usual spring continues in the Northwest. Scheduling a tune-up in May or June avoids the summer rush for maintenance service and repairs.
Find Your Local Bryant Expert Today!
Your comfort is too important to leave to chance. Whether you need a simple inspection or a complex repair, the experts in our Bryant Northwest directory are ready to help. Schedule your AC tune-up with a local dealer in Washington, Oregon, or Montana by visiting our online directory.