Play it cool this summer R&S shares tips on keeping your cooling system in top shape By Melissa Smith
M
ost of us have been there. In maintenance, check the belts and the coolthe South, our summers are no ant, most commonly known by the trade joke. Sweltering heat makes name Freon. It’s this coolant that actually living without air conditioning almost chills the air, and maintaining its levels unbearable, so when the cooling unit fails, should be handled by a professional durit’s miserable. In fact, in some cases, it can ing annual inspections. harm our health. When talking to a heating and cooling However, there are several ways to professional, homeowners might also hear make sure your coolunfamiliar terms coning system stays in nected to the coolant. top shape, says Steve “The R22 is the old Rozell. style of Freon, and it For the past 35 was bad for the ozone years, R&S Heating layer,” Josh Rozell and Cooling on says. As a result, Gatlin Road has there is a conversion R&S Heating and Cooling is a served the greater to a more environfamily-owned company. Ardmore area, as mentally friendly well as Madison and coolant commonly Huntsville. For owner Rozell, helping oth- known as 410A coolant, and homeowners ers stay cool is part of a family tradition. should understand the shift and whether it His father, Ray Lewis, opened the busiwill change their maintenance plans. ness. “I’ve been working with him since I Also, the ductwork — the tubing or could walk,” says Rozell, joking. He did, other enclosures used to move air through however, begin working summers with a home’s ventilation system for heathis father, a job that eventually turned into ing and cooling — can sometimes leak. full-time work. Now, Rozell’s son, Josh, Routine maintenance of your unit can help works in the family business. you find and repair ductwork problems. With a range of experience, including While a professional inspection is residential and commercial maintenance important, there are some things homeand installations, Rozell understands owners can do to help avoid potential equipment does sometimes fail. So, to problems. avoid the stress of your air conditionFirst, it’s important to replace heating ing unit going out in the middle of a heat and cooling filters on a regular schedule. A wave, Rozell offers a few tips on what you dirty filter can reduce the efficiency of the can do to ensure the best performance and system, but a clean filter means the air will the greatest reliability. flow freely. First, have your unit serviced regularly. Also, appropriate yard care can make Having the coils of the unit cleaned and a difference. Keep plants or debris away maintained is one of the most important from the exterior units of a heating and air keys to keeping a long-running air condisystem. Clean leaves or other plants away tioning system. “It’s like changing the oil from the cage protecting the unit. The goal in a car,” Rozell says. should be a clean, unobstructed flow of Also, when performing routine air.
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Easy and breezy There are several ways to make sure your home is comfortable during the hottest months of the year. Try these simple tips to keep your air conditioning unit in tip-top shape.
b Routine
maintenance Have coils cleaned and Freon checked periodically.
b replace filters
Dirty filters can reduce the efficiency of the system. Change them often.
b Check ductwork
Make sure your ductwork doesn’t leak so that air doesn’t escape.
b Clean around HVAC Unit
Keeping the area around the unit clean can ensure unobstructed air flow.
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