Prepare Your Home's HVAC for Your Summer Vacation

Leaving your home for a summer vacation gets you out of the heat and humidity, but as you prepare, don’t neglect to prepare your HVAC system. While you’re away, your home will fare better if you let the A/C run to prevent the problems excess heat and moisture cause indoors.

1. Schedule a tune-up. When HVAC pros go through your system, they clean and adjust the parts, and verify that everything’s working the way it should. They’ll discover if there’s a part not functioning as it should, and either adjust it or replace it.

   Besides improving your system’s dependability, it also lowers the amount of energy the A/C uses. If you have someone come by to water plants or just check in, give them your HVAC contractor’s contact information in case a problem occurs.

2. Secure the outdoor condenser. Thieves steal copper tubing and wires from air conditioning compressors because it’s fairly easy and nearly untraceable. To protect the unit, install motion-detector lights over the condensing unit, wire it into your home security system, or put a locking, wire mesh cage over it.
3. Install a surge protector. Summer is thunderstorm season and those lightening bolts and power outages can harm your HVAC equipment. A surge protector will prevent the damage power surges cause when lightening strikes or utility workers restore power after an outage.

   You can have an electrician install a whole-house surge protector or individual units for the appliance circuit breakers. Although it’s an expense, it could save you thousands in appliance replacement and inconvenience.

4. Replace the air filter. Start your summer vacation with a clean air filter for the HVAC system for optimal energy efficiency and problem-free A/C operation.
5. Turn the thermostat up. Just before you go, turn the temperature up a few degrees to save energy. If you’re leaving pets behind, check with your vet to find out the best temperature ranges for them.

Your air conditioning system will combat the problems that high heat and humidity create indoors while you’re on summer vacation. To schedule a tune-up, contact CCAC, Inc., providing trusted HVAC services for Coastal Bend homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.

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