The average daily highs for temperature in Calistoga hit or exceed 70 degrees for seven months out of the year. From the beginning of June to the end of September, it’s not uncommon for those temperatures to hover well above 80 or even into the 90s. With such a long—and at times, scorching—summer season, having reliable air conditioning in Calistoga is a must. For homeowners and businesses alike, having a dependable air conditioning system can mean the difference between facing miserable days of oppressive heat and enjoying comfortable interior temperatures even on the hottest days. So, what can you do to keep your air conditioning system in a reliable mode? Here are a few tips to get you there.
- Have your system inspected and serviced regularly
As a rule, you should be scheduling two routine HVAC services, at minimum, per year. Your air conditioning service call should happen in the early spring, before the temperatures start climbing. You should schedule another one in mid-fall, to look at your furnace before the colder months roll around. Keeping an eye on both sides of your system in this fashion will help you avoid breakdowns in the seasons where cooling and heating systems are most important. These routine maintenance calls aren’t very expensive and give you peace of mind that your system is going to operate reliably for the next few months of peak need.
- Clean the ducts
Another service your HVAC professional can offer is duct cleaning. Think about your ductwork as the highway by which air gets from your air conditioner to the different rooms throughout your home or building. Just as gridlock on the highway can delay your commute from work to home, a buildup of dust or other debris in your ducts or on your grates is going to impede airflow and affect temperature. In most cases, your air conditioning system will still be able to achieve the thermostat temperature; it just might have to work a lot harder to do it, which you’ll see reflected in your monthly utility bills.
- Replace the filters
Fresh filters can impact the reliability and efficiency of your air conditioner, not to mention the interior air quality of your building. These statements are especially true in the summer when pets are shedding, and everything is in bloom. Allergens are everywhere at this time of year. Plus, just as dust and debris in your ducts can force your system to work harder to achieve the same aims, dirty filters can result in higher cooling bills. Replacing your filters when they get dirty is one of the best things you can do to maximize efficiency, minimize spending, and protect the lifespan and long-term reliability of your entire system. Ideally, you should be checking the filters each month. It’s not a bad idea to have a few replacement filters on hand so that you can easily change out dirty filters when you find it’s time to do so.
- Keep the air conditioner and all thermostats out of direct sunlight
If possible, reduce direct sunlight on your AC unit as well as your thermostat(s). Since many units sit partially or entirely outside, it’s not always easy to install them in shady spots. However, providing these units with shade—whether provided by trees or by part of the house/building itself—will mean that the air surrounding the units is cooler. In turn, the air conditioning unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the air. As for thermostats, a blast of direct sunlight from a nearby window—or other sources of heat, such as hot lamps or cooking equipment—can affect the thermostat’s accuracy. In turn, the thermostat might think the interior temperature is warmer than it is, thereby causing the AC unit to run longer and harder than it needs to run.
- Pay attention to warning signs
Are there odd sounds emitting from your air conditioning unit? Is the air coming out of your vents suspiciously tepid? Are your cooling bills going up for no apparent reason? Any of these signs can indicate that there is something wrong with your system. Rather than ignore these problems or chalk them up to luck, call your HVAC technician for an inspection and diagnosis. Remember: paying to have your unit repaired, even out of the blue, will always cost less than replacing it entirely.
Know Who to Call for Help with Your Air Conditioning in Calistoga
In case you do find yourself in need of a mid-summer maintenance or repair service, it’s good to have an HVAC technician you trust on your speed dial. Don’t just go for the first company you find that offers servicing for air conditioning in Calistoga, either. Doing your homework and learning about the business—from their reputation among customers to their licensing and insurance—will help you find the reputable and dependable HVAC technician you need. The key to a reliable AC system, in a lot of ways, is having a reliable person who can monitor and service it for you. Finding the right HVAC expert today, then, could save you from an AC breakdown tomorrow.