Wake Up Your Home After a Restful Winter | ecobee Citizen Dismiss Skip to Main Content Close Products All products Thermostats SmartCamera Accessories Bundles Sales & Refurbished Products All products Thermostats SmartCamera Accessories Bundles Sales & Refurbished Smart Security Plans and features Smart Security support FAQ Smart Security Plans and features Smart Security support FAQ Services For home ecobee Air Filters Professional installation For business SmartBuildings For contractors Utility partnerships Services For home ecobee Air Filters Professional installation For business SmartBuildings For contractors Utility partnerships Support Thermostat compatibility Product installation Help center Compatible platforms Find a rebate Discover eco+ Support Thermostat compatibility Product installation Help center Compatible platforms Find a rebate Discover eco+ About us About ecobee Sustainability Donate Your Data Privacy Policy Careers Blog Newsroom Contact us About us About ecobee Sustainability Donate Your Data Privacy Policy Careers Blog Newsroom Contact us Sign in Sign in to your account Register new account Sign in to SmartBuildings Manage subscriptions Sign in Sign in to your account Register new account Sign in to SmartBuildings Manage subscriptions Now shopping: United StatesUnited StatesCreated with Sketch. 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Now the warmer weather is calling for you to get it ready for its peak season. Before turning up the chill factor of your home, here’s five things you should do to ensure your AC unit is ready to for summer’s hottest days. Change the air filter. Think of the filter as the secret gatekeeper of the air you breathe inside your home. Your Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning system (HVAC) prevents dust and debris from entering, which in turn, protects your unit’s parts. But over time, air filters get clogged. Something you should keep in mind is whether you have reusable or disposable air filters. A disposable filter typically has a cardboard frame and a paper or fiber mesh surface, while a permanent, reusable filter is made of sturdy material with a metal frame. It’s coated with a special washable finish. If you’re cleaning a reusable one, check the manufacturer’s instructions for washing. You’ll likely just need to rinse the filter with water and let it dry completely before use. In some cases, you can even vacuum away the dust. Think of the filter as the secret gatekeeper of the air you breathe inside your home. 2. Clean the condensation lines. Your HVAC system removes moisture from the air to help control humidity levels. This excess moisture eventually collects as condensation on the evaporator coil. To clean the drainage line, turn off the power of your HVAC system and use warm, soapy water or vinegar to remove debris or algae and improve your drain line’s efficiency. 3. Remove debris from the outside unit. The long winter months can be tough on the exterior of your air conditioner. Dust and filth build up over time, clogging the unit and slowing down its overall performance. If dirt gets into the air conditioner itself, this can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the system’s parts and impede the airflow of the unit. We recommend turning your unit's power off and spraying the exterior with a garden hose or power washer to clear the unit of seasonal debris. 4. Check the air ducts for leaks. Dust connections expand and contract over time. This causes the joints to open and leak, leading to expensive energy inefficiencies. The first step you should take to check for air leakage is to look for visible openings and tears. Wrap the area with foiled tape to seal them off. Next, check for leaks that are harder to see by putting your A/C on full blast and placing your hand near the joints. The presence of blowing air will help you determine which areas require reinforcement with foiled tape. 5. Invest in the all-new ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control. Before powering up your unit for the warmer weather, why not increase your energy savings and reduce your carbon footprint with a WiFi-enabled ecobee smart thermostat? Heating and cooling accounts for 40-70% of a home’s energy usage—that’s information we don’t take lightly. Heating and cooling accounts for 40-70% of a home’s energy usage. The good news is better managing your family’s temperature and comfort levels with advanced technology is a simple yet impactful way to do something positive for the planet. Looking for other ways to save money and energy throughout the summer months? Check back soon for even more tips on how you can make better efficiency decisions every day. Social media links Share this post: Did you enjoy this article? 😞 😐 😄 Thanks for letting us know! More smart home & tech posts Read "Seven Tech YouTubers on ecobee's All-New Smart Thermostats" Smart Home & Tech Seven Tech YouTubers on ecobee's All-New Smart Thermostats Find out what seven top tech YouTubers have to say about ecobee’s all-new smart thermostats. Read "Can a Smart Home Be Smart Enough to Make Parenting Easier? 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