HVAC

With Mother’s Day approaching, many people are scrambling to figure out how to make their mothers feel appreciated. One creative way you can treat your mom to a special Mother’s Day is by offering to repair, maintain and fix anything around her home, including her HVAC unit. If you’re not sure where to start, check out American Air & Heat’s helpful HVAC tips and techniques to make your mom proud this Mother’s Day!

  1. Change the Air Filter

    2. Changing the unit air filter is one of the easiest ways you can maintain an HVAC system. It takes only a few minutes, but it can make a world of a difference. A clean air filter ensures dust-free coils, better indoor air quality, a lower likelihood of expensive repairs, and a reduction in overall energy consumption. So, before you do anything else, take a minute to change the unit’s air filter.

    HVAC Pro Tip to Tell Your Mom: Ideally, an air filter should be changed once or twice every month, depending on the number of occupants and pets.

  2. Clean the Outdoor Unit

    3. The outdoor unit contains condenser coils which an important role in dissipating the heat away from the house. That’s why it’s important to keep it in good condition; a poorly maintained outdoor condenser can lead to debris getting caught in its fan, torn refrigerant lines, and high energy bills.

    Follow these tips to clean the unit:

    • Inspect the outdoor condenser and trim any growing vegetation close to it. It’s important to maintain a clearance of 2ft around the condenser to prevent vegetation, debris, or dirt from getting caught inside.
    • Next, turn the AC off and use a gloved hand to remove any large pieces of debris from the unit.
    • Use a brush attachment to gently vacuum the exterior of the unit, without bending the fins.
    • For thorough cleaning, use water to spray off any grass or leaves stuck to the unit and follow it up with some coil cleaner spray. Wait a few minutes and rinse the coil cleaner off properly.

  3. Schedule Professional Maintenance
    Treat your mom to a Mother’s Day HVAC maintenance special by scheduling an appointment with a professional contractor. While it’s easy and important to maintain your unit on your own, professional maintenance can go a long way in preventing expensive repairs and spotting problems that could become worse if ignored.

  4. Check the Thermostat
    Make sure to check your mom’s thermostat and ensure it is on “Cool” instead of “Heat”. Next, make sure the setting is on “Auto” instead of “Fan”—a fan setting causes air to continue blowing through the ducts when the AC is going through a cycle.

    HVAC Pro Tip to Tell Your Mom: According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7-10 degrees for 8 hours a day. Show your mom how you can try out this technique. This can be easily accomplished with a programmable or smart thermostat—if your mom does not have any of these, consider getting her a new thermostat this Mother’s Day!

For HVAC tips, services and repair, contact the pros at American Air & Heat. Call us today at (407) 512-9337 or schedule a service online! In addition, read our message regarding the safety precautions we’re taking during the spread of COVID-19.

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