June Home Maintenance To Do: Check Your AC

Ah, June. School’s out, the days are long, and the weather’s getting toasty. We get it—your vacation is beckoning.  But before you slather yourself with SPF 75 and reach for a margarita, do yourself a favor and tackle a few maintenance projects. A little pain now means a big gain later—you’ll ensure your home runs smoothly through the dog days of summer.

One of the first things you should check off your June Home Maintenance To-Do list is to check your AC.  “The last thing you want is a busted air conditioner, so before a heat wave hits, give it a test run for 30 minutes to make sure it’s cooling properly,” says Dave Quandt, vice president of field operations at American Home Shield, a home warranty company.

While you’re at it, clean and/or change the air filter, which is often a prime reason for your AC not cooling effectively.  Changing or cleaning your air filter is the easiest and least expensive way to improve your unit’s functionality.   And here’s another  cost-saving trick: to extend the life of your AC unit, adjust your programmable thermostat by only 2 to 3 degrees at a time.

When to Call in the Pros: If anything seems off, call in a professional HVAC company. You’ll spend between $100 and $250 for service, which includes cleaning the condenser and lubricating the fan motor. When the outdoor temps go deep into the red zone, you’ll likely consider it money well-spent.

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Photo Credit:  Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock.com