It's that time of year when you rely on your air conditioner to keep you comfortable at home as the mercury rises.  With proper maintenance you can ensure that your air conditioner does its duty with maximum efficiency.

First, be sure to shut the unit off at the service panel before performing any of these maintenance tasks. 

Check around the unit for leaves, grass, dirt or landscaping that may prevent it from taking cool air into your home.  As a rule of thumb, keep plantings a few feet away from the unit for maximum airflow.  Check the base pan under the air conditioner for debris.

The air filter, your colling system's most crucial component, should ideally be changed every month.  When it's clogged, the air conditioner must work harder to provide the same amount of cool air.  Once you know what size filter the unit takes, replacing it is as easy as going to the nearest home improvement store and picking up a filter the same size as the old one.

Your cooling system's indoor coils should be cleaned annually, as a dirty coil hinders the unit's ability to cool the air, forcing it to work harder.  Remove the unit's front panel, make sure the coil's dry and remove any dirt from it by gently using your vacuum's soft brush attachment.

Most importantly, have your air conditioner inspected every year or two by a professional technician, who will measure the refrigerant to see if it needs recharging, measure the airflow over the unit's coils and inspect and clean the filter, ducts, air handler, motor and compressor.  It's a relatively inexpensive procedure and well worth it when you consider that a properly maintained air conditioner will lessen your cooling costs.

Lindsay is a full time, professional Realtor in the Durham Region.  She specializes in helping home buyers and sellers find affordable real estate that matches their needs in the Bowmanville, Courtice, Oshawa, Whitby and Ajax areas.  Lindsay's goal has always been to be a source of information for all home owners even before they decide to make a move.

Call on Lindsay today with all of your home ownership or buying and selling questions!