Royal Heating & Air: Preparing Your HVAC for Summer

Thursday, August 26, 2021

How to Protect Your HVAC System from Summer Storms

Here in the Midwest, rain showers are not limited to just springtime. Summer can bring its fair share of pop-up storms and that can be an issue for your HVAC system, especially if it is aged or worn out. Even a new system can be at risk from damaging winds or electrical surges. At Royal Heating and Air, we have a few tips to help you prepare and protect your HVAC system from storms.

Wind & Hail

The first threat to your HVAC system that we are going to talk about is wind and hail. When the wind kicks up during a storm it can stir up debris of all sizes (or hail) and torpedo it against your outdoor condensing unit. Your condenser is made of tiny and delicate fins that can be easily bent or dented by flying debris. If this happens it can seriously affect how efficiently your system functions. If you notice dents or dings on your outside condensing unit after a storm, it is recommended that you have an HVAC technician at the Lake of the Ozarks come out and inspect your system to see if repairs are needed.

Preventatively, it is a good idea to do what you can to keep your trees trimmed and your yard free of debris. In an extreme situation, it may be best to shut off your HVAC system and cover it securely just until the storm passes. However, it is important to uncover it before using your system again and before moisture and mold has a chance to accumulate.

Lightening

Lightening can be the most serious hazard to your HVAC system during a summer storm. A strike at or nearby your home can damage or completely ruin your system’s components or wiring. Of course, your system is hard wired in, so you can’t just plug it into a surge protector. But you can add a whole-house surge protector, which will not only protect your HVAC system but everything that is plugged into your home’s electrical system.

Otherwise, your safest bet is to shut your thermostat off during an electrical storm and turn off the breaker to your system until the storm has passed. If your system is on during a power surge and the electricity goes off, and your air conditioner does not start back up when the electricity resumes, call Royal Heating and Air. We prioritize emergency HVAC services the Lake of the Ozarks for our clients and will be happy to come out and help.

Rain

Rain and moisture shouldn’t be an issue for a healthy HVAC system, but if one is old or worn out and has leaks or cracks where rain and humidity can get into moisture sensitive components, it is possible that normal rainstorms could cause problems. You can help avoid unwanted surprise by scheduling a regular maintenance check with a reputable HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks.

While you can’t control the weather, you can predict and prevent some of the risks to your HVAC system caused by summer storms. We know how miserable it can get in the summer if your air conditioner goes out and as the king of comfort, we want you be able to weather the storms safely and comfortably. For all your HVAC services at the Lake of the Ozarks, you can count on Royal Heating and Air.

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com

CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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Thursday, April 22, 2021

5 Easy Tips to prepare your HVAC for Summer

The summer heat will be here sooner that you might think, and nothing is more miserable than high temperatures and a sluggish HVAC system. Before the temperatures get that hot, there are a few things you can do to prepare your HVAC system for maximum efficiency and reduce your chances of having problems.

1) Change your air filter.

As usual, one of the easiest and least expensive things you can do to keep your AC working efficiently is to change the filter whenever it starts to build up with dust. Dust clogging your filter not only circulates dirt around your home and in the air, it also causes your AC unit to have to work harder. Different AC units have different filters and how often you need to change your filter depends on what kind it is. But if you see dust build up, you know it is time, and if you have pets, you should check more often.

2) Clean and clear around your outside condenser.

Another thing to do is to check your outdoor unit, called the condenser. It is important that the area around your condenser unit is clean and free of debris. Leaves and twigs can build up in and around the condenser and affect performance. Clear any weeds or plants from around the unit to allow for full airflow. The 2 feet around your condenser should be free of any shrubs or plants.

3) Check coolant lines for insulation.

A quick inspection of your coolant lines is a great idea as well. The coolant lines are pipes or tubes carrying refrigerant from your indoor air handler to the condenser unit outside. They should be covered with foam coolant line insulation. Proper insulation makes a difference in your AC’s efficiency, so make sure the insulation is intact and not missing.

4) Check drain lines

The indoors portion of your HVAC unit includes the evaporator and air handler. The cooling coils in that indoor unit will have a drain line for water. If your air handler is in your garage or basement that line likely goes into or over the main floor drain. You will want to make sure that line is unclogged and draining properly. If that line becomes clogged it can back up into the pan and eventually overflow causing water damage and potentially mold.

5) Energy efficiency

There are also things to do to help you maximize your cooling efficiency all season long. Using sun blocking window coverings and keeping them closed through the hottest times of the day can help. Using ceiling fans to circulate air flow can also make a difference. Just make sure the fan is blowing air down during the summer and pulling air up throughout the winter. You should also look for cracks and drafts where air can escape and seal those up.

Another thing that may be helpful includes installing a programmable thermostat so you can set it to use less AC or heat when you don’t need it (like when you are not at home) and regulate your usage more precisely. Also, if the coils or fins on the outside condenser unit are dirty, clogged, or bent, it can cause your AC to run much less efficiently. You can use a refrigerator coil brush or soft brush on a vacuum to carefully clean the coils and fins. Just be very careful not to bend the fins. For more stubborn stuck on debris there are commercial AC coil cleaners available. If this is something you would rather not tackle yourself, we understand. Feel free to give us a call and we will be glad to help!

If you find your HVAC is still struggling to keep up after taking care of all these preparations, reach out to us to see how we can help. We always seek to repair rather than replace when possible, and we have information on financing a new system when the time is right. If your system needs a little maintenance, it is always better to find out early in the season rather than in the hottest part of the summer. We do offer HVAC preventative maintenance checks and recommend that you have one done twice a year – once in the spring and again in the fall. For preventative maintenance, HVAC repairs and service, or a whole new change out, you can depend on us to help you find the right solution for your needs. That is why, at Royal Heating and Air, we are the King of Comfort!