Now is the time to get your central air conditioning system ready for the spring and summer warm up.  There are some key things that are imperative to having your system up and ready for service.  The areas that need your attention are:

1. Clean or replace your air filter.

          a. This is one of the most important things you can do to keep your system in top notch operating condition.  If you have the 1" or 2" fiberglass type

 or 1" pleated type

 filters it is recommended that you replace them monthly.  They are cheap insurance that the air going through your indoor coil is cleaned and that there is ample air flow through a clean filter. These are usually located in a rack on the side of your indoor furnace or air-handler, in a rack on the bottom of the furnace, inside the lower access door of the furnace or air-handler.  Make sure you pay attention to the direction of the air flow on the filter and that you install it in that direction, the arrow toward the furnace most of the time.

          b. If you have an electrostatic type

 air filter, one that you wash with a stream of water the opposite direction in which the air flows through, you will need to do this monthly also.  Be careful because the filter may not look dirty and you may think it does not need cleaned. Be dutiful to wash it regularly because it usually loads from the inside out because of the nature of the grids that cause the attraction field which can make it appear to be clean when it is not.  Make sure you wash it thoroughly with a strong stream from a garden hose sprayer or the like, in the direction opposite the air flow of the unit or as directed on the filter itself.  It takes a powerful stream to break the deposits that are inside the filter.  Let the filter drain before reinstalling it. Make sure you install the filter with the directional arrow pointing toward the furnace in most instances, this is very important for the filter to operate correctly.

          c. If you have an electronic air cleaner, it most likely will have a pre-filter that will need to be cleaned as per the manufacturer's instructions as well as the removable grids that are usually meant to be washed in the dishwasher.  Most of these units are designed to have the grid or grids removed through the access door and then washed in a normal cycle in the dishwasher.  You will need to follow the manufacturer's instructions for specific details on your unit or look for a link on the internet to the manufacturer's website for an owner's manual if you do not have one.

          d. If you have a high efficiency pleated air filter such as an Air Bear

 or Space Guard,

you will need to check it and determine if it needs replacement or not.  These will generally be a 4"-6.5" thick pleated filter and are designed to last 6 months to a year under normal operating conditions.  You need to replace them when the air flow begins to drop through the filter to an unacceptable level. 

There are gages available

to install that can help you determine when they need to be replaced.  These type of filters generally start out with a very good efficiency and as they load up they get more efficient at catching smaller and smaller particles. Generally it is good to write the installation date on them and check them at 3 month intervals and replace at least once a year.

   2. Clean your outdoor condenser coil on the air conditioner.

(Call a service company if you are not confident you can do this or if you don't know what you are doing)

          a. This is the other most important thing to make sure is done at the start of every season.

 First,

 TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE OUTDOOR UNIT!

 If your outdoor unit has exposed fins, you can take your garden hose sprayer and start at the top and wash side to side and then downward till you reach the bottom, making sure you are in close so that you wash through the coil.  This is especially important in the area where cottonwood trees and the like are around.  If the air cannot get through the coil because it is plugged, your air conditioner and you are going to suffer when the heat is up.  If your unit has a metal jacket around it, you may need to take out some screws and remove it to wash the coils or you may have to remove the top fan cover and backflush through the inside,  from side to side, top to bottom. If you are not confident that you can handle this, CALL A SERVICE COMPANY to clean and service your unit.

   3.  If oilable, oil your blower motor

and outdoor condensor fan motor.

(Call a service company if you are not confident you can do this of if you do not know what you are doing)

          a. Some furnaces, air-handlers and outdoor units have sleeve bearing motors which have oil ports that you can use to add oil to the motor bearings.  This usually is done at the beginning of each season.  If your motor has oil ports (usually will have a removable plug on both ends of the motor) you will need to put in 3-6 drops of oil (or as recommended on the motor or manufacturer) in each port and then replace the plugs.  This will keep you motor in top notch shape. Do not use 3 in 1 oil, use a high quality turbine type oil.  The oils found in the Zoom Spout and Tele Spout oilers are great for this purpose.  Some furnace motors and outdoor unit motors are difficult to access and you may need to remove them to oil them, do this only if you know what you are doing, otherwise call a service company to do this.

  4. Check the line set that connects your outdoor unit to your indoor coil.  The larger line is supposed to have an insulation covering it.  Make sure the insulation is intact and in good shape.  If it is not, you can purchase different types of replacement insulation to replace your bad or missing insulation.  Make sure you replace with the right size tubing diameter if you choose the tubular foam (black) and tape it good to keep it tight around the lineset.  This is important to the efficiency and good operation of your unit.

  5. After checking out and doing these simple tasks, turn you system on to test it out on a milder day to make sure it is running and cooling.  If you suspect it is not up to par, call a qualified service company to come check it out NOW, don't wait until it is 95 degrees out to discover you unit has a problem.  It is a good idea to have your unit serviced each season to make sure it is properly charged and all of the components are in working order.

Under all circumstances, make sure your unit is serviced and ready each spring.  You can do these tasks ahead of time so that you have the system ready for the service tech to check it out if needed.  The time you invest in your unit now can save you money big time later.