Air Conditioning Maintenance

Your air conditioning unit needs to be well maintained to keep functioning and operating right. You really do not want to have a broken down unit when you need it the most. There are simple things that can be completed to maintain your air conditioner to prevent damages that call for repair and replacements. You should call in professionals to do regular maintenance services on your units to enjoy more efficiency and enjoy long service without the need for replacements.

When you choose to attempt the maintenance tasks you feel you can handle, ensure that you shut the power before doing anything to the unit. If you are not very sure of what needs to be done, always get a professional to handle the maintenance for the best results. Remember that wrongly handling the unit can lead to new issues developing. Below is a guide to how you can handle your AC maintenance.

Clean and replace air filter

If you have a reusable filter, then you should consider regular cleaning. Winter and summer are seasons when the heating and air conditioning unit is highly used and the cleaning of the filters should be performed every month during these season. In spring and fall, a single cleaning will do the trick. If, however you have pets, monthly cleaning or replacement of disposable filters needs to be performed. Cleaning gets rid of allergen particles, dirt and dust that can hinder proper airflow of the system.

Examine the thermostat

As part of regular maintenance, you should keep a close eye on the thermostat. It should work properly all throughout the day so that your home enjoys appropriate temperatures. A good tip is to upgrade a mechanical type thermostat with a programmable model. This will give you an easier time controlling the temperatures around your home to create the most comfortable environment. It is a feature that can also save energy and running costs for your home unit.

Check the condensing unit

The fan mounted on the condenser unit should be in good condition and you need to have it checked on a regular basis. If the fan blades have any chips and cracks, then they should be replaced. For older units you will need to have fan motor bearings oiled on a regular basis as well. In the condensing unit, you should look for signs of overheating such as burned wires, blackened or melted insulation on the wires. For such repairs you should let a professional handle this work.

Check unit wiring

An Air Conditioning Maintenance unit has electrical connections and they should be part of the areas checked when having your maintenance preformed. Your unit capacitor should be checked and the contractor switch should also be checked for excessive pitting that might call for replacement. Your local air conditioning expert should perform these tests for you and will complete any wiring and component repairs necessary.

Clean the outer part of the unit

Dirt and dust are some of most common buildups on the unit and they significantly reduce air flow and system capacity. Shut the power off and remove debris using a garden hose. When cleaning, handle the coils gently so you do not damage or bend the delicate fins.

Air Conditioning Maintenance and repairs are very important to keep your unit running efficiently, sufficiently for longer periods of time. Choose reliable service providers like Action Heating & Air Conditioning to keep your unit in perfect condition.

Back to School

Well it’s back to school time. Whether you have a new student going for the first time to school or you have a senior in high school, this can be an eventful time for any parent. Below are just a few tips that may make this less stressful.

Making the First Day

If your child seems nervous, remind him or her that there are probably a lot of students who are uneasy about their first day back to school. Teachers are aware of this and in most cases make extra effort to make sure everyone feels comfortable.

It is a good idea to point out the positive aspects of starting school. This will help to create a positive anticipation about the first day. Your child will see old and new friends, try refreshing their memory of positive events from previous years.

Find a friend of your child that lives close by that may walk or ride the bus to school with your child.

If this first day back to school is a new school that your child may be attending for the first time, be sure you have attended orientations and have toured the campus ahead of time.

Backpack Safety

Make sure the backpack you have chosen is easy and comfortable for your child. One with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back are usually helpful.

Make sure that the backpack is lightly packed and well organized. Attempt to use all the compartments and pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should not weight more than 20% of your child’s body weight.

Your child should use both shoulder straps, slinging a backpack over one shoulder can put a strain on his or her muscles.

Rolling back packs are great if the school allows.

The right backpack packed properly will help your student feel organized on their first day back to school.

Traveling to & From School

School Bus

Your child should always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or to the school building.

Follow these safety tips

Remind your child to wait until the bus stops completely before approaching.

Make sure he or she walks where they can see the bus driver which means the bus driver can see them.

Remind them to look both ways before crossing any street.

Remind them to sit still once they are in their sit on the bus.

If the school bus has lap/shoulder seat belts, make sure your child uses it.

Check the school’s policy about food or drinks being consumed on the bus.

If your child has any condition that could result in an emergency on the bus, make sure the school nurse and other school health personnel are aware and have a plan if needed.

Car

All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age and size appropriate car seat or booster seat.

All children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles.

Remember that many crashes occur while novice teenage drivers are going to and from school. You should require seat belts, limit the number of teen passengers, do not allow drinking, eating, cell phone conversations, texting, or any other mobile device that could distract the driver.

Bike

Your child should always wear a bicycle helmet.

They need to ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic is going.

They need to respect traffic lights and stop signs.

They should wear bright-colored clothing.

Walk to school

Please make sure your child takes a safe route to school that has well-trained adult crossing guard at every intersection.

Identify other children in the neighbor that your child could walk with to school.

Be sure that your child’s pedestrian skills and knowledge are good. Small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic. You may want consider walking with them or consider having adult supervision.

If your child is young or attending a new school, either walk with them or have an adult walk with them for a week or until you are sure they know the route and can safely walk it.

There are many more areas that you should address. For instance, eating during school, before and after school care, study habits, and your child’s interaction with other children. Hopefully the above tips can help especially with that first sometimes difficult school day.

We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning hope that this information is helpful. If your Air Conditioner is not cooling well or your utility bills are getting out of sight, please call us at Action Heating & Air Conditioning at 251 272-5900. Our experienced experts are there to help. We will do our best to get to your house as soon as we can fit you in our schedule.

This is not a trick question. You should change air filters when they are dirty. Choosing how often to change your air filters can depend on several factors.
• The type of filters your A/C system requires
• The overall air quality of your city area home
• Pets- Birds, dogs, acts hamsters, etc.
• Number of people that live in your home
• The general air pollution in the city area you live in or if there is construction taking place nearby
For your typical 1” to 3 “air filters most manufacturers suggest to change them bi-monthly. This is a good rule of thumb. If you however have to tolerate light to moderate allergies, you may need to upgrade the air filter or change them even more regularly than OEM specifications. On the other hand, if you live in a remote area, own a home that is infrequently occupied (perhaps a vacation home) or an area where there are fewer cars around, replacing your air filter each year may be quite sufficient. Why are we concerned about pets, because they shed which can clog up a filter fast?
Here is a rule of thumb suggestion:
• Seldom used home or single occupant homes without pets and allergies change your filter 6 to 12 months.
• Typical suburban home without pest, change your filters every 90 days.
• Same home and you add a dog or cat change the filters every 60 days.
• Multiple pets or have allegories, change your filters every 30-45 days.
Use whatever remember system works for you and set alerts to remind you about changing your filters. This simple task with help your HVAC system perform better.
We at Action Heating and Air Conditioning hope these tips will help anser your concerns about when to change your air filters. If your air conditioning unit is not performing well or your utility bills are going out of sight, please call us at Action Heating and Air Conditioning, we can help. Our expert technicians can quick resolve any cooling issues you may have. Please visit our website at www.callaction.net for specials that we have available