Kitchener HVAC Repair: Fall Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips

Kitchener HVAC Repair: Fall Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips

3 Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioner is responsible for keeping your home at a comfortable temperature during scorching summer heat waves. When the air turns cooler during the fall, you probably don’t run your air conditioner as much. Although you aren’t relying on it to keep your home comfortable during the season, there is no excuse to neglect your unit. Using these three maintenance tips can keep your air conditioning system functioning at peak performance so that it is ready for the next summer.

1. Keep the Unit and Surrounding Area Clean

Fall comes just before the winter, so now is the time to take preventative measures to keep your air conditioning unit safe from snow and ice. Take time each fall to thoroughly clean your unit. Wipe down any dust and dirt that accumulated over the summer. Keeping the area clean prevents snow from piling up during the winter so that your unit does not get overloaded. Make sure you clean the system several times throughout the fall, especially after big storms, to keep it operating at peak performance. Cleaning the system also gives you the opportunity to identify any malfunctioning parts that need expert repair.

2. Replace the Air Filter

Most experts recommend that you replace your air filter every 90 days, so you should perform this maintenance task more often than just every fall. However, it is a crucial fall maintenance task because this is the season when the pollutants in the air change slightly. There aren’t as many allergens in the air as there are in the summer and winter, and installing a new air filter is the best way to protect your home from these new contaminants. A high-quality air filter keeps these pollutants from entering your home so that they today outside instead of affecting your indoor air quality.

3. Clean the Outdoor Condenser

The outdoor condenser of your air conditioning system is probably one of the elements you interact with least frequently. If the condenser is choked out with a lot of vegetation or gets dirty from the elements, your unit won’t run efficiently. You can easily prevent problems from occurring by periodically removing the vegetation that grows around the condenser. By allowing air to circulate easily around the condenser, you can keep your system running smoothly.

Call for Help When the Unit Malfunctions

If you aren’t running your air conditioning system frequently, you may not pay close attention to how it functions. However, calling a professional for help as soon as you notice an issue is the best way to save money on expensive repairs. When your air conditioner malfunctions, repair expenses can quickly spiral out of control. You may even need a new unit if you wait too long to resolve issues.

Performing regular maintenance on your unit can help you keep it running smoothly. It also helps you identify minor problems before they become major issues. If you don’t have much experience with air conditioners and don’t know what to look for in terms of problems, call the experts at CJ Brubacher to help. We have years of experience in the HVAC industry and are ready to keep your unit running smoothly for decades.

Schedule an Appointment for Air Conditioning Maintenance Today

Keeping your home or business building cool during heat waves is important. When you need air conditioning services in Kitchener, CJ Brubacher is here to help. In addition to residential air conditioning services, we also offer commercial air conditioning services to ensure you stay cool and comfortable whether you are at home or work. Contact us today to set up an appointment to maintain your air conditioning unit during the fall so that it is ready to serve you next summer.

Preparing Your HVAC System for Severe Weather

Kitchener Furnace Repair: 4 Ways to Prepare Your HVAC System for Severe Weather

With severe weather events on the rise, it is easy to be caught off-guard or surprised by the damage a storm can cause. Keep in mind that old adage: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In order to avoid a large bill for furnace repair in Kitchener, follow these simple yet effective suggestions for proactively protecting your HVAC system. 

1. Keep Your Furnace Footprint Free of Other Objects

We cannot prevent or predict the weather, but we can protect our assets in the event of a disaster. Imagine a perimeter of at least five feet surrounding the top, sides, and ground around your HVAC system. Clear away any tree branches, yard implements, or furniture that could be blown against the furnace during high winds and cause damage. The greater the distance between your furnace and other objects, the less likely your HVAC system will suffer a puncture or be crushed by something heavy in the chaos of a storm. 

2. Cut the Power

Another way to avoid paying unexpected bills for a residential furnace repair is to simply shut off the power to your furnace when you know a storm is coming. This will be temporarily uncomfortable for those inside the house, but it could save you a lot of money over time.

During a storm, electricity surges are common and can damage the circuitry of the HVAC system. If there is no power, however, there is no surge, and your furnace will continue operating smoothly after the storm has passed. Failure to do this may result in days or weeks without proper heating and cooling. In the aftermath of a storm, repair companies are often so backlogged that residents have to wait a very long time for their systems to be up and running again. 

3. Anchor Your Furnace Securely

Commercial furnace repair companies highly recommend that each furnace be fastened down to a concrete slab or securely fixed to an exterior wall. During high winds, even a heavy furnace can be lifted off the ground and jostled. This causes instability within the fan blades and wiring that make the furnace function. An unsecured furnace is not only a risk to your HVAC system but also may damage other property or people if it comes loose during a storm. 

4. Use a Surge Protector

While these are more commonly used to prevent electronics from shorting out, they are absolutely a wise choice for your furnace as well. A surge protector is able to sense unusual voltage increases and will shut off the machine if it believes the voltage is too high. This is especially crucial to have done ahead of time if you are not at home during the storm to turn off the power supply yourself. Power surges are not always predictable, so installing a surge protector takes away this element of surprise that could cost you money and inconvenience.

Prompt and Professional Furnace Repair in Kitchener 

There are a number of services we offer if you have the misfortune of needing your furnace repaired. The first thing we will do is visit your property and assess the damage. If you are experiencing an emergency, call our 24/7 crisis line and we can usually respond quickly. If residential furnace repair is what you need, we will send our technicians to your home to determine whether repair, replacement, maintenance, or tune-up is the best solution. If you need commercial furnace repair, let us guide you with advice on energy efficiency and the potential for capacity upgrades. Visit our website to schedule a service or request an estimate today.