Getting your AC ready for a Utah summer

HVAC tips for Utah homes

The first real heat wave of the Salt Lake summer is when AC problems show up. Everyone turns on their air at once, and anything that went wrong over the winter makes itself known. That's also when every HVAC company in the valley is busiest.

A little prep in spring helps you avoid that. Most of it you can do yourself in an afternoon.

1. Clear the cottonwood fluff

If you have cottonwood trees nearby, you know the white fluff that drifts through the valley in late spring and early summer. It's one of the worst things for an outdoor AC unit. The fluff gets pulled into the condenser's fins and mats into a felt-like layer. Dandelion seeds, grass clippings and dust do the same thing.

When the fins are blocked, the unit can't get rid of heat. It runs longer, cools less and works harder. On a hot afternoon it can overheat and shut off.

Check the outside unit a few times during cottonwood season, not just once. Look closely at the fins on all sides. If they look fuzzy or gray, they need cleaning.

2. Clean the condenser the right way

1. Turn off the power. Set the thermostat to off, then shut off the disconnect box on the wall next to the unit. Many also have a breaker in the main panel.
2. Clear the area. Pull weeds, leaves and debris from around and on top of the unit. Keep about two feet of open space around it. Trim back shrubs.
3. Brush off loose fluff with a soft brush or by hand.
4. Rinse with a garden hose on a gentle setting. Spray straight into the fins, not at an angle. Don't use a pressure washer. It will bend the fins flat.
5. Straighten bent fins gently with a fin comb if a few are folded over. Don't worry about small dents.
6. Let it dry, then turn the power back on.

If the fluff is packed deep into the coil, rinsing from the outside may not be enough. A technician can clean it from the inside out, which works much better.

3. Change the filter

Your AC uses the same blower and filter as your furnace. After a full heating season, including inversion season, the filter is often due. A clogged filter cuts airflow, and low airflow can make the indoor coil freeze into a block of ice. Put in a fresh one before the cooling season starts. Not sure what size you need? Try our filter finder.

4. Check the thermostat

• Replace the batteries if it uses them.
• Switch it to cool and update any schedule you set for winter.
• Make sure it's not in direct sun or next to a lamp. A warm thermostat will run the AC longer than needed.

If you've been thinking about a smart or programmable thermostat, spring is a good time. See our thermostat services.

5. Test it before you need it

Pick a warm day in spring and run the AC for a while. Don't wait for the first 95-degree day. You're checking that:

• The outdoor unit starts, and the fan on top spins.
• Air from the vents feels noticeably cooler than room air after several minutes.
• There are no new noises like grinding, squealing or loud buzzing.
• There's no water around the indoor unit or furnace.

If something is off, you've found it while there's still time to get on the schedule. Our what's that noise tool can help if you hear something new.

6. Check the condensate drain

Even in a dry climate, your AC pulls some water out of the air. That water drains through a small line from the indoor coil. If that line clogs with algae or debris, water can back up and leak, or a safety switch can shut the system off. Look for water near the furnace and make sure the drain line isn't kinked or blocked.

7. Get a tune-up in spring

A professional tune-up goes beyond what you can do at home. A technician checks refrigerant pressures, electrical parts like capacitors and contactors, the indoor coil and airflow. Worn capacitors are one of the most common reasons an AC quits on a hot day, and they can often be spotted before they fail.

The best time is spring, before the rush. Right now we're offering $50 off an AC tune-up (it can't be combined with other offers). If you'd rather not keep track of it every year, our Total Comfort Protection Plan includes a spring AC tune-up and a fall furnace tune-up every year, from $20/month.

A few Utah summer habits

• Close blinds on sunny west and south windows in the afternoon.
• Keep the thermostat steady instead of big swings. Letting the house get very hot and then cranking it down makes the AC run for hours to catch up.
• Keep checking the outdoor unit for fluff until the cottonwoods are done.

When to call a pro

• The outdoor unit hums but the fan doesn't spin, or it doesn't start at all.
• The air from vents isn't cool, or it cools less than last year.
• You see ice on the refrigerant lines or indoor coil.
• The breaker trips when the AC starts.
• There's water pooling near the furnace.
• The coil is packed with fluff that rinsing won't clear.

Our AC repair page explains how we handle these. If your system is older and struggling, our repair-or-replace tool can help you decide, and AC installation covers new systems.