Your experts at Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air are ready for the summer! It’s the hottest time of the year, and the heat is relentless in June and July. You are probably looking forward to your summer vacation plans, and we don’t blame you one bit! Vacation planning can be chaotic. There’s a lot of planning involved and details to think about. However, make sure you don’t forget about your AC system when planning. You want your residential HVAC system running at its best even while you aren’t home.
Ask yourself the following questions to your prepare your AC system for your upcoming trip:
How Will Getting a Tune-up & Safety Check Benefit You Before Vacation?
Per the manufacturer, it is highly recommended your AC system gets serviced once a year for its seasonal tune-up and safety check. With summer being the hottest months of the year, it’s crucial your AC is set up for success, running in its best condition! So if you haven’t already had your seasonal maintenance check performed, be sure to have this done before you leave for vacation. It would not be ideal to enjoy your much-anticipated vacation only to turn around and come home to an overheated house due to a faulty air conditioning system.
How Will Using a Surge Protector Benefit Your AC System?
Ohio is known to have quite a few thunderstorms in the summer. Do you have a surge protector in place to protect your home and HVAC system? If not, now is the time to consider doing so! We recommend using a whole-house surge protector all year round. But if you don’t currently have one installed, your upcoming summer vacation is the perfect time to find a reason to implement this.
How Will Cleaning Your Condenser Aid Your Cooling System?
Your outdoor cooling unit, also known as the condenser, should be kept in tip-top shape. It’s also important to make sure that the vicinity around the condenser is clear of obstructions as well. It would be a good idea for you to check your condenser a couple of days before leaving for vacation. If the unit looks layered with dirt and other particles, you can clean it off by hosing the unit down with a garden hose. In addition, make sure to keep any items several feet away from the unit. The condenser functions by sucking in the surrounding air and turning it into cold air to be blown throughout your home. Therefore, it’s essential nothing is near the unit that can fall onto it or harm it, or can be blown into and get stuck in the fan blades.
How Will Replacing Your Air Filters Before Vacation Help?
Your HVAC air filters should be swapped out every 30-60 days. So if your vacation falls within the timeframe that your air filter should be changed, you should change the air filter beforehand. Doing this will prevent you from returning home to a clogged air filter, which can very well lead to various issues with your AC system.
How Will Raising Your Thermostat’s Temperature Affect Your Energy Consumption?
Last of all, before you leave your house, you should raise the temperature to at least 80 degrees. Of course, you can set it higher, but it shouldn’t be set much higher than 85 degrees. 80-85 degrees is the ideal range as it will reduce your AC system’s energy consumption but still allows for enough room to notice energy savings on your next utility bill. Additionally, if you have a smart thermostat, you can operate it from the app on your phone and set it back to your usual temperature settings a few hours before your arrival home.
Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air is here to answer all your HVAC needs and concerns. We are a local, family-owned company you can rely on! All of our technicians are NATE-certified, and we aim to find a resolution that works best for you, your home, and your family. Call today at (937) 502-3842, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
