Summer heat means it’s time to crank on the air conditioner. Ensuring your unit can handle the stress of rising temperatures is essential to keeping you and your family comfortable during the hot summer months.

Start by getting your air conditioner serviced by a licensed HVAC company like Doctor Fix-It. Its licensed technicians have the knowledge and experience to troubleshoot common issues, run efficiency and performance tests, and help you find a new model and install it properly. Call Doctor Fix-It at 303-993-1550 and ask about the $49 A/C tune-up to keep cool without breaking the bank.

In the meantime, below are additional, simple steps you can take to make sure your air conditioner is ready to roll and helps you beat the heat all summer long!

Replace those air filters

Changing your air filter is one of the best ways to keep up with air conditioning unit maintenance. Most air filters should be swapped out every one to three months, depending on whether you have pets or children in your home.

Another popular option is a media filter, made of a pleated, paper-like material that can improve indoor air quality by getting rid of pet dander, dust, pollen, and other common air particles that may irritate your family’s breathing. Media filters are incredibly efficient, and they typically only need to be replaced once every nine to 12 months.

Keep the air conditioning’s home base clear

Making sure bushes are trimmed and the area around your unit is clear is a simple way to ensure it operates at its highest efficiency by keeping things like stray twigs, leaves, and pollen away from it.

And, if while you’re out there pulling out bushes or clearing away any leftover winter remnants, you happen to notice water pooling around your unit (or around your furnace inside), turn your air conditioner off immediately and give the pros at Doctor Fix-It a call to check it out.

Double-check your thermostat

Are you sure that thermostat reading is correct? Check its accuracy by using a secondary thermometer to compare temperatures. This is a quick way to ensure your unit isn’t working overtime and potentially costing you money in the long run.

If there are any major variations in the readings, Doctor Fix-It’s licensed technicians are a phone call away to help figure out the issue.

Aim for energy efficiency

Check that you have properly sealed doors and windows and blinds or window coverings to block sunlight from coming into the home. Adequate attic insulation will also help keep your house naturally cooler, which may help cut back on your energy bill costs.

Plus, you might also want to get a programmable thermostat, which will regulate the temperature for times during the day when you’re not there and can save you as much as $300 a year in energy costs.

Consider replacing your unit

If your unit is more than 10 years old, it might be time to seriously look at getting a new one. Besides being less energy-efficient, some older air conditioners may contain R-22 refrigerants. Since manufacturers no longer make R-22, it can make your unit more costly to repair.

Plus, many newer models can save as much as 40-60% on electricity usage! If you’re not sure how old your unit is or whether you should get a new unit, the Doctor Fix-It pros can help you figure it out.

Ultimately, these few simple things and regular maintenance from Doctor Fix-It are a surefire way to keep your air conditioner healthy, going strong, and blowing crisp, cool air inside your home all summer long.