Tuning Up Your Air Conditioner for Summer

Summer in Minnesota is just around the corner. Now is a good time to think about making sure your air-conditioning system is as energy-efficient as possible, so you hopefully won’t rack up big cooling bills.

(Of course, the best way to rein in A/C bills is to limit its use altogether, but we’ll save that for another post.)

Before summer, it’s worth doing a little maintenance to ensure your business or home air-conditioning system is working properly. If you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself, there are plenty of professionals to help. But here are some basic steps:

-- Take off any cover. Many people with central air systems have an air-compression unit that resides outside. They put a cover on it over winter to prevent melting snow and other debris from seeping into it. But that cover should come off when the machine is being used.

-- Remove obstructions. Make sure there are no branches, dirt or other debris blocking the vents on the outside equipment. These can reduce the central air system’s efficiency. Trim away any branches blocking it and clear away any debris.

-- Change the filter. Whether it’s a centralized air system or a window air-conditioning unit, it has a filter. That filter should be changed regularly, even monthly, during the season you’re using it.

-- Clean the inside. Use a soft brush or vacuum and carefully clean the inside of the unit. Experts say it’s especially important to clean the evaporator coils of the unit.

-- Test it. Once you’ve cleaned the inside and everything seems ready to go, make sure it’s functioning properly. Wait for the temperature to reach at least 65 or 70 degrees outside and turn it on. Let it run for about 15 minutes. If you feel cold-air coming out, that’s a good sign. You might also use a room thermometer and check the temp near an air vent and compare it to the temp outside to make sure it's measurably cooler inside.

Any other tips you’ve found to making sure your summer cooling system is energy efficient?