Start with a clean filter
The most important thing you can do is check and replace your air filter before summer arrives. A clogged filter makes your system work harder, costs more to run, and can cause it to shut down entirely on the hottest days. Look at your filter every month during cooling season. If it looks gray or brown instead of white, replace it. Standard filters cost a few dollars at any hardware store.
Clear the outdoor unit
Your condenser sits outside and pulls in air from around it. Clear away any plants, leaves, or debris within two feet of the unit. Make sure the fins are not bent or blocked. If you see dirt buildup on the fins, gently rinse them with a garden hose on low pressure, not a pressure washer, which can damage them.
Check for visible leaks or damage
Walk around your indoor and outdoor units. Look for water pooling, refrigerant leaks (a greasy residue), or visible damage to lines and connections. Small problems caught now are far cheaper to fix than waiting until July when your system fails in 100-degree heat.
Get a professional tune-up
A spring maintenance visit catches issues filters and eyes can’t see. A technician will check refrigerant charge, test all electrical connections, inspect the compressor, and clean interior components. They’ll also run the system under load to make sure it’s cooling properly. Bluebonnet Air’s maintenance plan includes two tune-ups a year for $189, and you get priority scheduling in summer, which means same-day repair if something does break during peak season. A single emergency AC call costs more than a year of the plan.
Set your thermostat settings
Before the season starts, test your thermostat. Set it to cool and make sure the system kicks on and air flows from your vents. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, program it now rather than fumbling with it in July.
Summer in Texas is no time to learn your AC doesn’t work. A little work in May pays off in reliable cooling from June through September. If you haven’t had a tune-up in the last two years, now is the time to schedule one.