KEEP YOUR COOL!

So, here we are heading into the middle of summer and we really haven’t experienced much in the way of hot temperatures so far here in the Sierra foothills. Unusual, but I’m sure that the heat will be upon us soon. Maybe a smart thing to do before the heat sets in is to give the cooling system of your home a little ‘look-see’ and maintenance before you press the system into heavy service. If your home has an evaporative cooler (many times called a ‘swamp cooler’ because of the odor that sometimes comes from the water in the unit) it should have been ‘winterized’, which means it was cleaned, emptied of water and covered. Now you reverse the process, but first you need to inspect the cooler. Look closely at the base of the cooler for signs of rusting, and if you see some, it’s probably time to apply the proper paint-on asphalt type coating to prevent rust through and leakage. Next, look at and check the condition and operation of the water fill valve and float after turning the supply water valve back on. Adjust the float to maintain the water level to the proper height in the cooler base. Then examine the cooler pads and clean or replace them as needed. Turn on the cooler with one cooler pad panel removed to see how the water pump and water dispersion system for the pads operates and to make sure there will be plenty of water spread across the top of the pads to saturate them. At this point you are almost done as all that you have left to do is oil (or grease) the electric motor and fan bearings and check the condition and adjustment of the fan belt.
If your home is equipped with a heat pump and/or forced air HVAC system that includes a condenser unit on the exterior of your home, there is a few things you can, and should, do, but any kind of real service work will most likely have to be performed by a qualified service technician that has the proper tools, equipment and materials such as refrigerant. But what you can do to help the unit work a little easier is to make sure that there is nothing stacked up next to the condenser unit and cut back any foliage that may be growing up against the unit. The condenser needs good airflow to operate efficiently. So, look down inside the unit and see if any debris has accumulated in it, and if so, see if you can vacuum or remove it safely. Don’t mow the lawn with the grass cuttings allowed to discharge at or around the condenser unit as the clippings will get sucked into the unit, and, the mower may pick up a hard object such as a small stone, which could damage the condenser. Make sure you disable the unit before attempting the cleaning by flipping the breaker switch of the disconnect panel box on the wall next to the condenser. Closely look at the case and fins (if any) for physical damage. Also look at the refrigerant lines (if any) to see if they are damaged or crimped. These lines are copper tubing and are most vulnerable where they leave the condenser unit and enter the wall of the house. The larger of the two lines should be cold when the system is on and the line should be insulated with a black foam type material with out cracks, deterioration or bare areas. The smaller tube should be warm it’s entire length. A certified technician should perform any further service or repair.