When summer sweeps through South Carolina, you’ll probably want to stay inside and rely on your HVAC system to keep your house cool. However, many homeowners don’t take care of their air conditioning system until it starts to break down. You must keep up with HVAC maintenance to ensure your air conditioning performs well on the hottest South Carolina days.
Let’s go over the 5 best ways to get your HVAC system ready for summer in South Carolina:
- Check for clogged air filters
- Make sure your AC’s outdoor unit is clean
- Adjust your thermostat on extra hot days
- Schedule an AC tune-up
- Consider an annual maintenance plan
Check for Clogged Air Filters
Your HVAC system will struggle in summer if its air filters are blocked. The filters capture dirt and other tiny particles that would otherwise enter your air. If the filter isn’t replaced regularly, dust and debris can build up quickly.
If the filters are clogged, your air conditioner will have to work harder over time to cool your home, as the blockage will interrupt normal airflow. When your air conditioner is working to combat high temperatures in summer, this can lead to the system breaking down.
Changing your air filter before the heat hits can prevent a breakdown during summer and avoid costly repair costs.
Make Sure Your AC’s Outdoor Unit Is Clean
It’s important to have at least two feet of clearance on all sides of your AC’s outdoor unit. This space allows adequate airflow, which is crucial for the efficient operation of the unit’s coils and other system parts, especially during summer.
Take a look at your outdoor AC unit. Is it dirty? Is overgrown vegetation obstructing any outdoor vents? By cleaning the unit and trimming back overgrown plants, you’ll lessen the strain on the unit and reduce the chance of it breaking down.
Adjust Your Thermostat on Extra Hot Days
It’s a natural instinct to want to drastically lower your thermostat as outdoor temperatures rise. However, this can strain your AC and doesn’t actually result in much lower temperatures indoors. We advise keeping your thermostat set at no lower than 75 degrees Fahrenheit on days with temperatures above 90. This reduces the chance of your air conditioner breaking down.
Schedule an AC Tune-Up
Professional maintenance is the best way to get your air conditioning system ready for the South Carolina summer. Make an appointment with a certified and experienced technician for an annual HVAC tune-up as soon as possible.
You might think everything is fine, but there could be problems brewing inside your AC unit. During an AC tune-up, an expert technician can spot issues before they require costly repairs. Tune-ups also maintain the validity of your warranty and lengthen the lifespan of your equipment.
At Elite Air and Heat, we offer some of the most comprehensive tune-ups around. Our technicians check the functionality of the thermostat, the fan motors, the refrigerant levels, and more. We also lubricate moving parts, clean indoor coils, clean the cabinet and drain pan, and tighten electrical connections where necessary.
Consider an Annual Maintenance Plan
At Elite Air & Heat, we provide a cost-effective maintenance plan to remove the guesswork from maintaining an HVAC system. With pre-planned annual maintenance, you can be sure that your AC will always be ready for summer. Here’s a glance at what our Home Team Service Plan includes:
- Spring tune-up visit
- Fall tune-up visit
- Discounts on repairs
- Priority service
- …and so much more!
Turn to York County’s Most Reliable Name in AC Maintenance and Repairs
Looking to prepare your air conditioner for summer in South Carolina? Elite Air & Heat is a locally owned and family-operated business that offers reliable maintenance on a convenient schedule. Give us a call at (803) 570-8835 to schedule an AC tune-up or join our Home Team Service Plan!
