How to Prepare Your HVAC System for Florida’s Humid Summer Months
Florida summers give off oppressive humidity and soaring heat that puts a lot of strain on everyone. It also puts strain on your HVAC system. Often, your home will be uncomfortable even with it running full blast and your utility bill heading for the stratosphere.
How can you enjoy a cooler home for less? The answer is to equip your HVAC system properly for summer, which also helps prevent costly breakdowns. Which, inevitably, happens on the hottest day of the year.
Here are some tips for properly preparing your HVAC system and home.
Schedule a Professional HVAC Tune-Up
Now is the best time to schedule a tune-up, thus preparing your HVAC system for the hot weather. A professional can inspect your system and make any necessary repairs, catching potential problems while the temperature is still reasonable. They will also clean the system, improve indoor air quality efficiency, and check refrigerant levels.
If your system has real issues, they can talk to you about the next steps.
Replace or Clean Your Air Filters
Depending on your system, air filters should be changed every 1 to 3 months. You should often change your filters if you have pets or indoor allergies. Allergens are usually worse during the summer because of high humidity, and even pets may want to stay inside in the A/C more. Clean filters help maintain airflow and improve air quality, keeping your bills down.
Consider talking to your HVAC professional about upgrading to HEPA filters, which also control pathogens.
Check Your Thermostat Settings
Ensure your system is set to cool and programmed for the right temperature, preparing your HVAC system for the warmer days ahead. You generally don’t want to lower the temperature too much as it will make the outdoors feel even warmer, and rapid shifts in temperature are not good for your immune system.
Consider getting a smart thermostat. You can have it turn your AC down when you are not there and then begin lowering the temperature when you return home or adjust the temperature at night, significantly reducing your bills.
Clean Your Outdoor Unit
Your outdoor unit can quickly become blocked by debris, leaves, and dirt, so clean it. At least two feet of clearance should be around the unit, so trim back plants that might have encroached. Keep pets away from the unit.
This also allows you to visually inspect the unit for problems and listen for unusual noises that might indicate a problem.
Seal and Insulate Ductwork
Leaky ductwork can result in cooling outside or places like attics and crawlspaces where you don’t need climate control. Inspect your ducts by a professional who can find and seal any leaks, ensuring that cool air reaches every part of your home— and nowhere else.
Check and Clean Your Drain Line
When your A/C is dealing with high levels of humidity, the condensate drain line has to work extra hard and can become clogged. Water then backs up into the system, causing damage.
It’s easy to clean your line—flush it with vinegar and water. The vinegar kills any mold that might be growing in the line.
Consider a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
As beautiful as Florida is, it gets very humid, and often, a standard A/C system simply can’t keep up. This leaves your home feeling warmer and can even lead to mold growth.
Adding a whole-home dehumidifier to your HVAC system helps remove excess moisture and lowers strain on the A/C system itself. “Space” dehumidifiers can also help, but we recommend a whole-home dehumidifier in Florida due to the climate.
Test Before Peak Summer Heat
You may be managing without A/C fine just now, but it’s a good idea to turn on the system before things get any hotter to make sure it’s working…you can always turn it off again once you’ve established whether there are issues. Listen to the outdoor unit for unusual sounds, and look for hot spots in your home.
If you find problems, you can fix them before the thermometer really sours.
Stay Cool and Comfortable All Summer
By preparing your HVAC system, you reduce the temperature in your home and the risk of a costly and disruptive breakdown. You can also save money by lowering energy usage and extending your unit’s life.
Schedule your HVAC tune-up with Mid-Fla Heating & Air today. Contact us to enjoy a cool, pleasant summer.
