Don’t Forget A/C Maintenance as Cincinnati Heats Up
With summer temperatures reaching into the 90s, southern Ohio is hard on its air conditioners. This heat, combined with our area’s high humidity, makes air conditioner maintenance in Cincinnati a greater concern than in cooler areas, but it’s not necessarily complicated.
Keep Your System Clean
A buildup of dirt and debris on your air filter interferes with normal airflow. To compensate, your fan motor has to work harder to bring in enough air. This reduces the system’s energy efficiency and wears down the motor. Check your filter monthly and replace it if you find debris buildup. One-inch fiberglass filters usually last only a month. Consider upgrading to higher-efficiency pleated filters, which improve your indoor air quality, protect your system better, and last longer.
Thanks to our area’s wind, cleaning the outdoor unit is another important part of air conditioner maintenance in Cincinnati. Periodically use a stiff brush to remove dry leaves, grass clippings, and other debris from the outdoor unit’s fins. Every year, remove the unit’s top and clean out debris inside with a wet-vac.
A clogged condensate drain can let water back up into your house, causing damage. Every two months, pour half a cup of white vinegar into the condensate line to discourage algae that can cause blockages. Once or twice each cooling season, use a wet-vac to pull sludge from the outside end of the drain.
A Few Extra Steps
Easing the demand on your air conditioner also helps protect your air conditioner. Air leaks around your doors and windows let in hot, humid air, making more work for your air conditioner. Seal these leaks with caulk or weatherstripping as needed to improve your comfort and your A/C’s efficiency.
Well before the cooling season kicks off, schedule an annual professional air conditioner evaluation. A technician can clean the evaporator coil, tighten electrical connections, replace worn relays, check the refrigerant level, and perform other tasks that keep your system efficient.
If you’re looking for pro help with air conditioner maintenance in Cincinnati, contact us at Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing in the Greater Cincinnati area.