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As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise rapidly, it’s important to make sure the cooling system in your Richardson, TX, home is in good condition. After all, the last thing you want is to have to sit in the sweltering heat even when you’re in the comfort of your own home. Summer is a very popular time for air conditioning service calls due to the high demand put on ACs during this time. If you want to avoid hiring a service company to fix your AC this summer, here’s how you can make sure you’re prepared.

AC Sizing

One of the most important parts of making sure your air conditioner is ready to tackle the summer weather ahead is making sure it’s the right size for your home. Just because you have air conditioning doesn’t mean it’s able to keep your home at a cool temperature. This is why you should have an air conditioning service check the sizing of your AC.

The tough part about finding the right AC size is that it doesn’t simply depend on the size of your home. If you want to make sure your AC is able to keep your home cool, you need to have a professional calculate the size of AC you need.

While it might seem like using an oversized AC would be no problem, you’ll end up having to pay more for the initial investment as well as more on your monthly energy bill. If your AC unit is too small, you’ll still pay more than you should for cooling and your home won’t stay as cool as you want it to.

Routine Maintenance

If you want to keep your AC in good shape for many years, you need to make sure you’re having a professional take a look at it and tune things up a bit every once in a while. As a matter of fact, most air conditioning service experts recommend having routine maintenance done on your HVAC system at least twice every year. This is called seasonal maintenance, and it should be done during the fall and spring since these are these seasons where you use your heating and cooling the least.

During seasonal maintenance, an expert will check on your AC to make sure everything is in working order. This includes cleaning the coils, combing the fins and removing any debris that may be in or around the unit. While it doesn’t take a long time for an expert to do seasonal maintenance, it can save you a fortune in repair costs.

You should have the same things done during the fall as you have done during the spring. Even though you’re not going to use your air conditioner during the winter months, it’s important to make sure everything is clean and in working order to minimize the need for air conditioning service calls down the line.

Improving Air Quality

Since your air conditioner moves a lot of air through ducts and eventually into your home, it has a tendency to pick up dust and debris on its way. While this isn’t a huge problem in most cases, there are times when your AC can carry allergens and other contaminants into your home. The air filter in your HVAC system is responsible for filtering out these contaminants before the air reaches the inside of your home.

If you want to keep your indoor air quality good all summer long, you need to make sure you’re having an air conditioning service professional change your air filter regularly. For a single-person household, the filter should be changed every 3-6 months. For large families with lots of pets, you may want to change the filter as often as every month.

You also have to consider the differences in air filter quality. When you hire an air conditioning service expert to replace your air filter, you’ve got your choice of filtration strength. However, the more you filter contaminants out of the air, the worse the airflow of your AC will be. It’s best to ask a professional about what type of air filter you should get for your Richardson, TX, home.

Spotting Problems

Another important part of keeping your AC running smoothly throughout the summer is knowing how to identify problems. Whether you hear a noise, smell something odd or notice a lack of cooling power in your AC, there are a lot of things that can indicate that you have a problem.

Noises are a common sign of air conditioning problems, and they come in all sorts of varieties. While it’s natural to hear a little bit of noise from your AC, you should never hear excessive noise coming from the unit. Clunking and squealing sounds are especially common signs that you need air conditioning service.

If you smell a moldy smell coming from your AC, it’s probably a result of water pooling up in the unit and allowing mold and mildew to grow. A burning smell could be an indicator that something in your AC is overheating, such as a wire or motor.

Refrigerant leaks are another thing to keep an eye out for. If you notice anything leaking from your AC aside from condensate, call an air conditioning service expert to inspect your AC as soon as possible.

A Helping Hand

The truth of the matter is, getting your AC ready for summer can be a lot of work. But since the last thing you want is a busted AC in the sweltering summer heat, it’s important to maintain your AC.

If you’re in the area, there’s no better air conditioning service to call than K&S Heating and Air. We’re happy to help you make sure your AC is ready to keep your home cool all summer long. To learn more or schedule an appointment today, call K&S Heating and Air at (972) 942-8078.