Closing blinds

Summer is a busy time where lifelong memories are made. With vacations, children home from school, work, and more, it can be easy to forget about your air conditioning maintenance.

However, the increase in heat during summer creates additional stress on your air conditioning unit. To make sure you’re staying on top of any potential problems while keeping your system running optimally, make sure to follow Warner Service’s Top 5 Summer Maintenance Tips:

1. Keep Your Thermostat Set Above 78 F

With the temperature reaching scorching highs during the summer months, maintaining the air conditioning at a consistent temperature will ensure the unit's longevity while also reducing your monthly expenses.

Did you know that for every degree under 78 F that you set your thermostat, your energy usage (and cost to cool) will increase 6-8%? Try to keep the stress off your unit by keeping the thermostat set around 78 F throughout the summer. As the temperature rises to 90-100+ degrees, many homeowners find it helpful to adjust their thermostat up to the 80- to 85-degree range.

Consider investing in a smart thermostat, such as the Ecobee Thermostat, Nest Learning Thermostat, or Honeywell Lyric T5 Thermostat. These thermostats learn your heating and cooling patterns and automatically adjust your thermostat for you. Some models also allow you to control the thermostat from your phone or Alexa device.

2. Keep the Ceiling Fans On 

If your home has ceiling fans, keeping them on and circulating air will play a large part in keeping you comfortable while also keeping the air conditioning costs low. If your home doesn’t have ceiling fans, consider investing in a pedestal fan or the installation of ceiling fans.

Wondering how the fans can play an integral part in keeping your monthly energy bill low? An air conditioner, on average, will cost you around 36 cents per hour and this accounts for nearly 25% of your home’s energy bill. While on the other hand, a ceiling fan costs a fraction of that at 1 cent per hour. With such a low monthly cost and the added comfort it will provide, keeping the ceiling fan running is an easy-to-do summer tactic.

3. Close the Blinds

Shutting your blinds when you are not using them will redirect sunlight out of your home, keeping it cool and removing unnecessary stress from your air conditioning unit. Up to 76% of the sunlight that enters your home during the summer will turn into heat.

Be strategic about which blinds you keep open and how long they are kept open. Make sure to let everyone in the household know to keep the blinds shut when they do not need to be open.

4. Annual Air Conditioning Tune-up

Your air conditioner and heating units should be tuned up at least once every year. This will ensure that everything in your system is running smoothly for optimal efficiency. Warner Service’s professionals will handle all your air conditioner tune-up needs. In every AC tune-up, Warner Service covers:

  • Condenser coil cleaning
  • Flush the condensate drain
  • Lubricate moving parts
  • Check and recharge refrigerant (refrigerant recharge offered at add-on rates)
  • Adjust and clean blowers
  • Check and tighten electrical connections

Interested in having a Warner Service professional handling your air conditioning tune-up? Sign up for a service agreement here.

5. Do-It-Yourself Maintenance

While there are steps you should leave to the professionals, there are many do-it-yourself maintenance steps that you can take to keep your system running smoothly and keep its health in top shape. Make sure to stay on top of these tasks throughout the summer:

By following these simple steps, you will be able to keep your air conditioning costs down throughout the summer without losing the home comfort that you love. To help assist you in your HVAC maintenance this summer, Warner Service created a free, downloadable checklist:


Download Our HVAC Maintenance Checklist