Check on filters, belts, and pullies.

During a long hot summer, the filters will be extremely dirty and in dire need of a cleaning. Also, belts and pullies will become worn out and will need to be replaced.

Clean condensation lines and evaporator coils

This lines and coils become clogged with moisture and dust which will cause your AC not to run at peak efficiency. A licensed AC technician can check for these and make sure they are clean.

Make sure drain pans and drainage lines are clear.

Standing water left in the pain will cause mold to accumulate in your system. And if your drain lines are clogged, you can have an overflow in the spring and a big mess on your hands.

Tighten any loose electrical connections

Check your refrigerant.

If it is low, you may have a leak somewhere that needs to be fixed. A trained AC technician can look for this and fix it.

If you notice your AC is running but not cooling, this is something that needs to be corrected ASAP.

Clean your ducts and filters.

Not keeping your ducts clean can lead to major unnecessary health problems.

Make sure your blowers and blades Continue reading →

One thing that I despise more is newscasters that utilize fear-mongering to boost ratings during a major storm approaching. So I am not going to be posting any more reminders, rebuttals, whatever on anyone who wants to keep posting these various “look at all of these times models said a storm was going to go to X but it really went to Y!” posts. I’m too damned tired to do it anymore.

Every single one of those posts are wrong, misleading, poorly written, or contrived. Every single one of them fail to respect the fact that in every one of their cases, the eventual path/landfall was entirely within the NHC’s forecast cone of uncertainty, and that in every one of these cases the NHC essentially showed the final path in their warnings at least 3 days – and in some cases, 5+ days – ahead of time, all of which are remarkable.

Are models 100% accurate? Of course not. Are they generally good for <= 2 days from initialization? Yes. Do storms “suddenly” turn, or make “surprise” changes? Only if all you are paying any attention to is the NHC’s central forecast line. I continue to post on social media Continue reading →

Protect your air conditioning systems before the storm hits.

Cover any outdoor air conditioners or condensing units with a tarp or plywood to protect the air conditioner from flying debris. Secure any outdoor air conditioners with hurricane straps, if necessary to protect them from high winds.

Before the storm hits, lower your thermostat to so you can pre-cool your home. You will be able to stay cool longer after the power goes out, or until you turn on your generator if you have one.

When the storm his, be sure to turn off your air conditioner during a hurricane. Leaving it on while you are having constant power interruptions can cause more damage to the system. It places a lot of pressure on the compressor and many other integral parts of your AC when your system shuts off suddenly and turns back on when power is restored.

After the Storm, Keep These Questions to Keep in Mind

• Was the A/C unit ever underwater?
• Are all lines (refrigerant and electrical) intact, or is there damage?
• Has the unit been hit by falling trees or other windblown objects?
• Can you detect and is there any evidence of electrical smoke?
• Do you hear Continue reading →