ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — With summer temperatures right around the corner, it's time to tune up your air conditioning, and make sure everything is ready to go.
"Lack of maintenance is the most common problem that we run into," Crawford Company Service Technician Casey Mehrens said. Mehrens has been with Crawford Company since 2017.
On Friday, May 17, Mehrens did routine maintenance at a home in Rock Island. The first step was replacing the client's air filter.
"The lower the airflow, if it's plugged, you can freeze your AC up and you won't have correct circulation throughout your house," Mehrens said.
Clogged and dirty air filters require your HVAC system to work harder to push air through your system. This results in higher energy usage, leading to higher energy bills, and no one wants to spend money than they have to.
Mehrens next step was was cleaning out the debris, and hosing down the AC unit.
"What cleaning it out does is keeps us running not as hot," Mehren said. "The hotter it runs, the longer it runs. And the longer it runs, the more expensive it is for you."
"This (AC unit) is outside to discharge heat, and if it's too plugged and dirty, it can't discharge enough heat, and all that heat will go right back into your house," Mehren said.
Replacing your air filter at least four times a year and hosing down the AC unit once a year are Mehren's two biggest tips to keeping your home cool and your wallet full.
If you decide to work on your AC unit yourself, make sure to power it off before opening the electrical compartment. This will prevent electrocution and prevent the unit from possibly turning on with your hand inside.