As welcome as any getaway is, taking time for vacation HVAC prep ahead of time may help you have a more relaxing and carefree trip. Leaving it on will keep your home healthier while you're away and more comfortable when you return.
Inspect the air filter.
If it’s dirty, change it before you leave. Leaving a dirty filter in place puts it at risk for freezing over or shutting down entirely.Low airflow over the evaporator coil inside the air handler could easily make it freeze over. If it continues to run, the cold refrigerant can harm the compressor, the system’s most expensive part. Eventually the AC will turn off and the excessive frost could flood the drain pan and the areas near the air handler.?Sometimes a dirty filter will block the airflow enough to trigger a low airflow switch inside the air handler. If you leave your home with a dirty filter in place, the HVAC system may not run at all, which could allow humidity to build and create uncomfortable temperatures for any pets or plants you leave behind.
Clean the outdoor condenser.
Be sure that the area around the outdoor condenser has at least three feet of clearance around it and nothing sits on top. The condenser needs free airflow to cool the hot refrigerant coming from your home. Hose off the coils if they appear dusty.
Have it professionally serviced.
An important part of vacation HVAC prep is having a professional HVAC technician look over the equipment before you go. The cleaning and adjusting that’s part of annual servicing will keep it running smoothly. The technician will check the refrigerant level, oil the motors and remove any oxidation or dust from the electrical components.Install a surge protector to protect the HVAC system from power surges that may occur from strong spring storms while you're away.Starting the cooling season with personal and professional vacation HVAC prep will reward you with dependable and efficient air conditioning performance. For more information, contact Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.