Controlling the Humidity in Your Home

If you're like most people, you're focused on staying warm right now. However, in a few months, you'll want to start using your air conditioner. With that in mind, now's the time to start focusing your attention on air conditioner repairs; how to handle them, and how to avoid them. If your summer ended with some minor air conditioner problems, the best thing you can do is take care of those repairs before summer officially begins again.

Focusing on these repairs now, you avoid the rush to hire an HVAC contractor. Not only that, but taking care of the repairs before summer begins means that your air conditioner will be ready to go should you get hit with some unseasonably hot weather this spring. In addition to taking care of the repairs before summer arrives, you also need to know how to avoid summer repairs and malfunctions. Here are three of those steps for you to follow this summer. 

Make Your AC a No-Dog Zone

If you have a ground-mounted air conditioner, and you also have male dogs, it's time to take action. This is especially true if your male dogs typically have access to your ground-level air conditioner unit. You might not realize this, but dog urine is highly corrosive, which means it can destroy your air conditioner, especially the coils and fan blades. To avoid the damage, and to protect your air conditioner, make the area around your air conditioner unit a no-dog zone. If your dogs have already had access to your air conditioner, have your HVAC contractor conduct an inspection. Your coils and fan blades might need to be repaired before summer. 

Leave Your Vents Wide Open

If you like to conserve energy, you might close the vents to rooms that aren't being used. Many people do this as a way to avoid energy waste. This practice might help you save energy, but it can also damage your air conditioner. Closing off certain vents causes pressure to build up in the ducts, especially behind the closed-off vents. When this happens, your air conditioner loses balance, which can cause serious problems. To reduce the risk for costly repairs, leave your vents wide open during the summer. If you've been closing your vents, it's time for an HVAC inspection. You might need to have some pressure-related repairs taken care of this year. 

Don't Postpone Repairs

Finally, if you want to extend the life of your air conditioner, and you want to ensure plenty of cool air this summer, don't postpone repairs. Instead, schedule an air conditioning repair appointment at the first sign of trouble. Those timely repairs can help you avoid costlier problems down the road.