For many people around the country, April is the first month when they might turn on their air conditioning unit. Even if it’s still chilly where you are, summer is right around the corner, so you need to make sure your A/C unit is ready to tackle the summer heat. A central air conditioner has an indoor air handler and an outdoor compressor. The compressor is where you want to spend your time cleaning and maintaining. More than likely, you didn’t use your air conditioner during the cooler winter months, so you’ll need to do a few things to ensure your unit is in peak condition before turning it on. Before doing any work on your unit, make sure you turn off the circuit breaker. You’ll need to turn off the power to the condenser at the service panel, but most condensers also have a weatherproof disconnect box that you need to power down. Once your unit is powered down, you can begin cleaning and replacing your furnace or air-handler filters. Ideally, you should do this twice a year. If you fail to change or clean these filters, restricted air flow will reduce the efficiency of your unit. In addition to cleaning your filter, you also need to clean the condenser coils. If your unit was uncovered during the winter, leaves and other debris likely found their way inside the coils. Make sure the fan is clear before moving inside the box to check if the coils are clogged. If they are, clean them with a soft brush and use a vacuum to clean the coils from the inside. Once you’ve cleared away all the debris and excess water, check the coolant lines. These lines are usually covered with foam insulation that can fray and crack. If they’re damaged, replace them with new foam insulation sleeves. Your unit should now be ready for a test, and if everything runs well, your air conditioner should be ready to take on the summer heat. Anyone can clean and complete simple maintenance, but if the system still doesn’t work properly, call in a professional to investigate and handle further repairs. Preparing Your A/C Unit for Summer
Should I Install Solar Panels on My Home?
A new trend is spreading across the country like wildfire. You may have noticed it: Houses in your neighborhood or surrounding areas have solar panels installed on their roofs. You may have wondered how these panels work or if they’d be worth it for your home. Well, it depends on your situation. Solar panels convert sunlight to usable electricity with the help of a solar inverter, and that electricity can be used to power nearly everything in your home. Some solar panel systems will take it a step further and include a solar battery that allows you to store electricity to use later. This comes in handy if you live in an area that experiences power outages from time to time. Solar panels can be an extremely beneficial investment, but they do have a fairly high initial cost. The average residential solar panel installation cost today is between $13,000–$17,000 after claiming the 26% federal solar tax credit. It can also take anywhere from 2–3 months to get your solar panels fully installed after signing an agreement with an installer. Most Americans don’t have an extra $13,000 lying around to spend on solar panels, but many companies offer financing options to meet any budget. It’s estimated that solar panels will save you more than $50,000 throughout their lifetime due to rising energy costs. Also, in some states, you can sell the excess solar electricity your panels produce back to the utility company. Another new idea hitting the East Coast this year is the solar shingle, which will allow your entire roof to act like a solar panel. These shingles can be easily installed with a nail gun and should cut down on labor costs significantly. The new solar shingle has already won an award at CES 2022 for Best of Innovation Award for Smart Cities. Solar power is definitely something to keep your eye on — it is a rapidly developing technology. Many benefits come with installing solar panels today, but with the introduction of solar shingles, it might be better to wait and see how the technology develops.
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