Getting your home cooling systems ready for the summer heat

CLEVELAND -  

As the temperature revs up, homeowners are focusing on their cooling systems. The repairmen at Green Home Solutions gave us a few simple suggestions to keep yours working through the summer.

They said, first and foremost, the condenser coils need to be maintained. Otherwise, if they go out you could have a costly problem on your hands.

Homeowner Angie Wallace said she invests in keeping her air conditioner in tip-top shape every summer because it saves her money.

"My monthly bills are coming in very low," said Wallace. She recalled a time when the air went out and she had to feel the heat. "I was sweating really bad, then I take refuge in the basement.”

Green Home Solutions owner Gabrielle DeJesus said prevention really is worth a pound of cure when it comes to air conditioning and can save you a lot of money in the long run to keep maintenance on your unit.

"Make sure you're keeping the condensers clean and make sure your filters are clean, make sure you're changing them monthly, and make sure your thermostat's set," he said.

DeJesus said breakers pop and fuses get blown because they're overworking when they units aren't clean and they run hot.

"The condenser coils are the biggest issue we've been having. They need to be cleaned properly yearly and the filters, also the drains need to be flushed out. Those are the major issues we've been running into,” he said.

"It's just like changing the oil on your car, kinda, when this gets plugged up everything inside of here. It just causes the whole system; it affects the refrigeration cycle air flow. You just need to keep all these fins and everything clean," said one Green Home employee.

They said you should also inspect your unit for leaks and keep the motor lubricated. Replacing the fan belts is also necessary, especially for older models.