6 AC Services That Can Prep Your Oakland Park Home for Spring

With its warm weather, Florida provides ample opportunity to get out and soak up the sun, but it’s often hampered by an influx of pollen during the spring.

Any native Floridian understands the importance of having a quality AC unit to beat the heat. However, you may be surprised to learn that your home’s HVAC system helps deal with pollen too. 

The following 6 AC services can help your family breathe easier and stay prepared for that first heatwave.

Test the Thermostat

During Florida’s relatively mild winters, your HVAC system is likely inactive for hours or days at a time. Many residents crack open a few windows and enjoy the cool, fresh air.

While this can be great for your health, you must ensure that your thermostat is working as it should. If you adjusted any of its programmings, be sure to reset it to the desired cooling levels before the weather warms up. You may even need to recalibrate your thermostat so it is dialed in for the approaching heat. Professional AC technicians can handle this for you and even install an upgraded thermostat if necessary.

Schedule an Inspection

If your AC hasn’t been serviced in a while, you should have it inspected by a licensed technician, who will check for duct leaks and damage to your HVAC system. Don’t wait until temperatures skyrocket into the 90s. Be proactive and ensure that it is working as it should.

Duct Cleaning

Your home’s air quality has a huge effect on you and your family’s health. Your HVAC system includes a complex network of ducts and intermingled systems that work together to control the temperature within your home. Every aspect of your AC unit must be addressed with regular maintenance to keep it performing at optimal levels. One of the best ways to prepare for spring is to schedule a duct cleaning.

Regularly replacing the air filter helps, but this method is not foolproof. Dust and debris will still accumulate in your home’s ductwork. During a duct cleaning service, licensed technicians remove this build-up, which improves the air quality in your home. It also protects your family from harmful bacteria, such as mold and mildew.

AC Tune-Up

Generally, your home’s HVAC system should be serviced at least once per year. This tune-up includes a wide array of routine maintenance services that help your AC run efficiently.

During a tune-up, technicians perform tasks such as:

• Checking the function of your thermostat
• Inspecting wiring and connections on your blower
• Replacing air filter
• Inspecting outdoor unit
• Removing dirt and debris from the external housing
• Checking wiring harnesses and connections for damage (replacing if needed)
• Checking coolant levels (topping off if necessary)
• Inspecting and straightening fins
• Inspecting and unclogging drain pipe and pan
• Testing fan and motors

An AC tune-up is a comprehensive service that will have your HVAC system in tip-top shape. It prepares your system to handle the most demanding months and repairs any problems before they become worse.

Install a UV Air Purifier

Let’s face it: Oakland Park’s allergy season can be pretty harsh. The pollen permeates your HVAC system and reduces the air quality in your home. One of the most effective ways to improve your air’s cleanliness is through the use of a UV air purifier.

This system utilizes powerful UVC light. UVC or “C” wave ultraviolet light is a proven method of eliminating airborne contaminants. The lighting system is installed inside your AC system, just past the intake vent. As air draws into the ductwork, the light kills microscopic contaminants and purifies the air.

Install a High-Efficiency Air Filter

A UV air purifier is a great way to prepare your HVAC system for allergy season, but it can’t work alone. Installing a HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate absorbing filter, drastically eliminates the number of contaminants that make it into your ductwork. When you combine these two filtration methods, your home’s air quality improves significantly.

You and your family will breathe easier and may even be less prone to respiratory illness because many viruses that make us sick are airborne. These particles exist in greater concentration in your home’s air, which is why indoor air quality is often worse than fresh air. Your family will reap the benefits of HEPA filters and air purifiers year-round.

Contact Us

Do not put off these critical AC services. Doing so can leave your family without a properly working HVAC system when you need it most.

Contact Abraham AC & Heating Services today! Our skilled professionals can handle all of your residential and commercial HVAC maintenance needs. We are your friendly AC specialists.

Why Do You Need Annual A/C Maintenance?

Proper A/C maintenance ensures that all of your heating and cooling equipment are safe to operate. Because air conditioners consume a lot of power, unchecked electrical faults can cause fire hazards or electrocution. If you have a furnace in your home, it also needs to be inspected for potential structural integrity issues that may negatively affect your indoor air quality. Furnaces and air conditioners are interdependent on each other, so if one system fails, other cooling or heating can systems fail in a cascade effect. That’s why it is important to take care of all the systems at regular intervals.

In addition to preventing breakdowns, regular A/C maintenance helps homeowners save money on utility bills. Well-maintained air conditioning systems keep houses at a specified temperature without consuming too much energy.

Do-It-Yourself A/C Maintenance Tips

Evaporator coils accumulate dirt over time, and this affects the rate at which the A/C system cools or heats your house.

• Step One: Use a soft brush to get dust and debris out of the way. Next, spray the evaporator coil with a no-rinse coil cleaner to get rid of deposits and other gunk to improve the component’s efficiency.
• Step Two: The buildup of algae and mold can clog the evaporator drain and cause flooding issues. In addition, clogging can cause a bad odor to linger in your home. Locate the evaporator drainpipe and get rid of debris with a dry or wet vacuum cleaner.
• Step Three: If you live in a dusty environment, you should replace the blower filter at least twice annually. Ideally, you should do it before the heating season starts and also right before the cooling season.

Don’t forget to clean your condenser and compressor that are typically installed outside the home. It is recommended to run a regular A/C service schedule to keep these components in top condition.

• Step One: Temporarily cut the power to the A/C unit before you clean it. For most A/C systems, owners just need to remove the block or breaker or move the switch to the off position.
• Step Two: Use a rough paint brush or vacuum cleaner to remove debris around the unit.
• Step Three: Clean and reshape (straighten) your A/C condenser fins. If your fan motor does not use sealed bearings, remember to check the fans’ lubrication.

When Do You Need to Call A/C Maintenance Experts?

Realistically speaking, there are some A/C maintenance tasks that require the assistance of professionals. For example, A/C compressor short cycling, checking electrical faults, calibration procedures should be handled by an experienced A/C service technician. If your air conditioning system needs more than regular maintenance, do not hesitate to contact Abraham AC & Heating Services, Inc. for professional A/C repair solutions.