How to Prepare Your AC for Northern Colorado Summers

Step 1: Replace the Air Filter

Start fresh with a new filter. After a full winter of furnace use, your filter has been working hard. Put in a clean one before you run the AC for the first time. This ensures maximum airflow from day one.

Step 2: Clean the Outdoor Unit

Your outdoor condenser unit has been sitting through wind, rain, and snow all winter. Walk outside and check it:

• Remove the winter cover if you used one.
• Clear away any leaves, grass clippings, mulch, or debris around and on top of the unit.
• Trim back bushes, plants, and grass to at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides.
• Gently spray the condenser fins with a garden hose to wash off dirt and dust. Spray from the inside out if possible. Do not use a pressure washer as this bends the fins.
• Straighten any bent fins using a fin comb (available at hardware stores).

Step 3: Check the Condensate Drain

The condensate drain line removes moisture your AC pulls from the air. Over winter, algae and sediment can build up. Pour a cup of white vinegar or a half cup of bleach down the drain opening (usually a PVC pipe near your indoor unit). This prevents clogs that can cause water damage or system shutdowns during summer.

Step 4: Inspect the Refrigerant Lines

Look at the copper lines running from your outdoor unit to your house. The larger line should be insulated with foam. If the insulation is damaged, cracked, or missing, replace it. Exposed lines lose cooling capacity and make your system work harder. You can buy foam insulation tubes at any hardware store in Fort Collins, Loveland, or Windsor.

Step 5: Test the System

Turn on your AC and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes. Check these things:

• Is cold air coming from the vents? Hold your hand over the supply vents. The air should feel noticeably cool.
• Is the outdoor unit running? Walk outside and verify the fan is spinning and the compressor is humming.
• Are there any unusual noises? Grinding, squealing, or banging are not normal.
• Does it smell normal? A brief musty smell on first startup is common. A burning smell is not.

If anything seems off during this test, call for service now. In April and May, HVAC companies have shorter wait times. By July, everyone is booked and you could wait days for repair.

Step 6: Check Your Thermostat

Switch from HEAT to COOL. If you have a programmable thermostat, update the schedule for your summer routine. Consider setting it to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 when you are away for the best balance of comfort and efficiency.

Step 7: Open and Clear All Vents

Walk through your entire house and make sure every supply vent and return vent is open and unblocked. Over winter, you may have rearranged furniture, hung curtains, or placed items over vents without realizing it.

Step 8: Schedule a Professional Tune-Up

A professional spring AC tune-up catches problems before they leave you sweating in July. At Mountain States Mechanical, our spring tune-up includes cleaning the coils, checking refrigerant levels, testing electrical connections, verifying thermostat accuracy, and inspecting all moving parts. Schedule now while our calendar still has openings.

We serve Windsor, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Timnath, Johnstown, Berthoud, Wellington, and Severance. Call 970-556-3249 to schedule your spring tune-up.