4 Tips to Keep Your AC Running

Written by Hanna Plumbing & Heating / April 4, 2022

In a month or two, you’re going to flip on your air conditioner for the first time this year and for a few seconds, you won’t be sure if it’s actually going to kick on. Hopefully it does but those few seconds can be nerve-wracking if you haven’t had an AC tune-up for a few years.

There are a few things that can help keep your air conditioner running more efficiently for longer. While you might not be able to do all of these things yourself, a spring AC tune-up from Hanna will take care of these items and more. This basic maintenance, along with an inspection and tune-up from Hanna will give you peace of mind, save money on your energy bills, and extend the life of your air conditioner.

Change Your Air Filter Regularly:

This is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your HVAC system running efficiently. And yes, even though they’re often just called “furnace” filters you still need to change the filter over the summer while using your air conditioner. Even though it’s not heating in the summer months, your furnace still functions as the air handler for your air conditioning system which is why it is important to continue changing out your filter. Changing your air filter regularly will help keep the evaporator coil cleaner for longer, which we discuss in the next section.

How often you need to change the filter depends on the filter and the air quality in your home—things like pets and having the windows open a lot mean you’ll want to change your filter more often. Staying up on changing out your air filter can lower your AC’s energy use by 5% to 15%! Changing your filter not only helps your AC run more efficiently, but it also keeps your AC running longer.

Clean the Coils:

Your air conditioner utilizes two “coils,” which are both filled with refrigerant. The evaporator coil is located inside your home on top of your air handler unit and absorbs the heat and humidity from your home. The condenser coil is located in the outdoor portion of your system and releases that excess heat from your home. Over time, these coils can collect dirt and grime, which can insulate the coils so they aren’t able to cool as well as they should. As you can imagine, this hurts efficiency and increases your energy bill.

Cleaning these coils requires opening up your AC equipment. This is something we always recommend you have a professional take care of. In addition to making sure the coils are clean, our technicians will check for leaks, make sure refrigerant is at the correct level, inspect the electrical connections, measure airflow through the evaporator coil and make sure both coils are in good working order so you can be confident your AC will make it through another Iowa summer.

Check the Coil Fins:

The “fins” on both coils can easily become bent and bent fins block airflow through the coils. This makes your unit work overtime—which means a shorter lifespan. If your system has bent fins there is a tool called a “fin comb” that our technicians carry that helps straighten all the fins quickly and easily. It’s also important to wash out any dirt and debris that has built up on or in between the fins of your outdoor unit. This is another task that our technicians take care of as part of a spring AC tune-up.

Winterize Your Outdoor Unit:

When you’re done using your air conditioner for the season, covering it helps protect it from the elements and keeps dirt out so that it doesn’t collect on the coils or fins. You can find AC unit covers online and the small upfront cost could save you money in the long run.

To get the most out of your AC when it comes to energy savings and lifespan, give Hanna a call for an AC tune-up. Our trained technicians will inspect all elements of your HVAC system—so you never have to wonder if your air conditioner is going to kick on. Contact us online or give us a call at (319) 377-2809.