Summer Safety & Your HVAC System

Summer is filled with many fun activities, gatherings and vacations! However, summer storms and long vacations can take a toll on your HVAC system. The following tips and tricks will get you through the hotest and stormiest days as well as when you are away from home.

Be HVAC smart:

• A large percentage of your utility bill is spent on your a/c system. Make sure it is running efficiently.
• Clean or change your air filters monthly.
• Consider adding insulation around ducts and have a licensed HVAC technician repair any holes or separated joints in the ductwork.

Protect yourself in a storm:

• If your HVAC unit gets flooded, turn off the power immediately and let the system dry out to reduce the risk of short-circuiting. (This could take up to 4 days to dry out.  If it doesn’t dry out after a week, it may need to be replaced.)
• Following a storm, you may have debris built up (especially on units at ground level). Ensure that the unit is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• Lightning can cause damage ranging from blown fuses and burnt capacitors to fried compressors and burnt wires. Turning off the unit during the storm could prevent damage from a power surge.

Preparing for vacation:

• For every degree a thermostat is raised, you can save 2 to 3 percent on your utility bill, so if you are leaving for an extended period of time, turn the thermostat up!
• A programmable thermostat can save the average homeowner about $180 per year, and you can program it to lower the temperature before you arrive home so that when you get there, it will be quite comfortable.
• Close curtains and blinds. Not only does it keep your home cooler, it also keeps anyone from looking in and seeing that no one is home.

Call LHT Cooling Heating & Refrigeration of Myrtle Beach for any repairs or routine maintenance so that your HVAC system can handle whatever the summer throws at it.