Getting your air conditioner ready for summer

Have a contractor check the cooling system every spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. Book that visit first.

Nearly half of the energy used in a home goes to heating and cooling.

What you need

• A new filter in the size printed on the frame of the one in use
• Gloves and pruning shears for plants near the outdoor unit
• The thermostat's manual, if it's programmable

Steps

1. 1

   Book the spring check-up

   A cooling check-up includes cleaning the evaporator and condenser coils and checking the refrigerant level. The technician also cleans and adjusts the blower, because airflow problems can cut a system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

   5 min

2. 2

   Change the filter

   Check the filter every month, especially in summer and winter, and change it at least every 3 months. A dirty filter slows airflow and makes the system work harder.

   10 min

3. 3

   Uncover and clear the outdoor unit

   If you covered the outdoor unit for winter, remove the cover. Cut back plants and clear leaves from around the unit.

   15 min

4. 4

   Open and clear the registers

   Move furniture and rugs off the supply and return registers. Blocked registers waste energy.

   5 min

5. 5

   Set the thermostat for summer

   Set it as high as is comfortable, and raise it when you're asleep or away. A good starting point is 78°F or higher when you're home, raised at least 7 degrees during the workday.

   5 min

6. 6

   Set the ceiling fans to turn counterclockwise

   A ceiling fan lets you raise the thermostat about 4 degrees with no loss of comfort. Turn the fans off when you leave the room.

   5 min

7. 7

   Check for cool air at every register

   Run the system on cool for 15 minutes, then hold your hand to each register. Mention any warm or weak register at the check-up.

   5 min

Settings that help through the summer

Leave the thermostat's fan switch on "Auto" rather than "On". Turn kitchen and bath exhaust fans off within 20 minutes after cooking or bathing. Close blinds and curtains on sunny windows during the day.

A heat pump handles summer cooling too. Set it to "Cool" rather than "Auto", so it doesn't switch to heating on an unseasonably cool day.

If something goes wrong