How to Prepare Your Home for a Southern California Summer
This month we’re celebrating the first day of summer! Yes, it’s been warm, but are you really prepared for summer? What about your house? Though winters down here can be mild, the summers are tough on our homes and property. To ready ourselves for a long, hot season, we’re sharing some great ways to prepare your home for a Southern California summer. The best part, these tips are easy to do and won’t take too much time.
Landscape Around Your Condenser
When it comes to your outdoor condenser, don’t neglect landscaping. Plant growth will make an impact on your system and system’s functionality if not properly taken care of. If plants and other foliage grow too close to the condenser, it could impede airflow, making the machine work twice as hard. Plant debris can also get in the condenser and hurt the fan, coil, and other moving parts. This also goes for low hanging branches. Ideally, a condenser should have 2 to 3 feet of space on either side. The condenser should also be shaded; direct sunlight can also impair its functionality.
Clear Your Gutters
No matter what, clearing your gutters and downspouts should be high on your to-do list. We all know that Southern California does not get the same amount of rain it used to, despite this, clearing your gutters and downspouts before summer hits is paramount for home health and safety. Cleaning debris will help keep critters and pests out of your attic. Also, debris left to cook in the summer sun can turn your gutters into a fire hazard.
Change the HVAC Filter
If you haven’t changed your HVAC filter, what are you waiting for? Any treated air that circulates your home first passes through the air filter. The air filter is the first line of defense in ensuring your family is breathing healthy air. After months of hard work keeping you and your family warm, chances are that your air filter is full of dust and debris and needs to be changed. If you want to add an extra layer of protection, look for a filter with a high MERV (Maximum Efficiency Report Value) rating. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter will be at catching airborne contaminates. If you don’t know how, or feel uncomfortable changing the filter yourself, ask your HVAC technician to take care of it during a tune-up.
Schedule an Appointment with Service Champions
If you want some help preparing your HVAC system and home for a Southern California summer, call the experts at Service Champions. We are the only Diamond Certified HVAC company serving parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. Our technicians are trained, reliable, and above all, nice. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, click here to request one online, or reach out to our friendly call center representatives. They’re ready for your call.