As the summer heat intensifies, our home's air conditioning system becomes an invaluable companion, ensuring our comfort and well-being. To ensure its optimal performance and longevity, regular maintenance is crucial.
Don't worry; you don't have to be an expert to keep your AC in top shape. We'll guide you through some basic AC maintenance tips that will help you stay cool all summer long.
Clean or Replace Air Filters:
Air filters are the unsung heroes of your AC system, responsible for capturing dust, allergens, and debris. Over time, these filters can become clogged, obstructing airflow and decreasing cooling efficiency. It's essential to clean or replace them regularly, typically every one to three months. Refer to your manufacturer's instructions for specific guidance. Clean filters not only enhance performance but also improve indoor air quality.
Keep the Outdoor Unit Clear:
The outdoor unit of your AC system, often referred to as the condenser unit, requires ample space and proper airflow to operate efficiently. Make sure to keep it clear of any debris, leaves, grass clippings, or other obstructions that can restrict airflow. Trim nearby vegetation and maintain a minimum clearance of two feet around the unit. Regularly inspect the area and remove any buildup to prevent airflow blockage.
Check and Clean the Condenser Coils:
The condenser coils, located in the outdoor unit, play a critical role in transferring heat from your home to the outside air. Over time, these coils can accumulate dirt and grime, hindering heat transfer and reducing efficiency. Annually, or as needed, gently clean the coils using a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Be careful not to bend the delicate fins. If heavily soiled, consider professional cleaning.
Maintain Proper Drainage:
Condensation is a natural byproduct of the cooling process, and your AC system has a drainage system to remove excess moisture. Check the condensate drain line regularly for clogs or blockages. If you notice water pooling around the indoor unit or suspect a clog, use a mixture of bleach and water or a specialized cleaning solution to flush the drain line. This prevents water damage and keeps the system running smoothly.
Inspect and Clean Vents and Registers
Blocked or dirty vents and registers can impede airflow and cause uneven cooling throughout your home. Regularly inspect and clean them to ensure unobstructed airflow. Remove any dust or debris with a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth. Additionally, ensure that furniture or other objects are not blocking the airflow around vents, as this can strain the system.
Schedule Professional Maintenance:
While there are several maintenance tasks you can handle yourself, it's recommended to have a professional HVAC technician inspect your AC system at least once a year. They can perform comprehensive checks, clean the internal components, and address any potential issues before they escalate. Professional maintenance helps maximize efficiency, improve system lifespan, and identify problems early on.
By following these basic AC maintenance tips, you can keep your home cool and comfortable while prolonging the lifespan of your air conditioning system. Remember, a well-maintained system not only saves energy and money but also provides a refreshing retreat from the scorching heat outside.
Looking for a more professional opinion on if your air conditioning systems needs service? Contact Details Home Inspections. We provide home inspections in both Washington and Oregon that you can always count on. Stay cool and enjoy the summer!
Home Inspection Blog
Home Maintenance List
Regular Home maintenance will increase the longevity of your home. Doing these items can help reduce more expensive repairs in the future. Most of these items are simple homeowner (DIY) tasks that don’t take much time.
Here at Details Home Inspections, we offer maintenance inspections that can help a homeowner identify these items and many more. Schedule now and book the home maintenance inspection to help guide you and save you money on you home.
Home Maintenance List-
Clean gutters and maintain during rainy season
Change air filters quarterly
Roof moss removal annually
Trim vegetation in contact with roof/exterior
Double check all plumbing connections under sinks quarterly
Disconnect exterior hoses before cold weather
Touch up exterior paint with exposed areas of wood
Caulk all wet areas(bathrooms, kitchens)annually
Check attic/crawlspace visually annually for any moisture intrusion
Tighten/adjust any loose hardware on doors
HVAC service annually
Check GFCI outlets quarterly
Test and replace batteries for smoke and Carbon monoxide detectors quarterly
Home Inspection Blog
The EPA reports that more than 23 million Americans rely on wells for their home’s water. Because these properties aren’t on water systems managed or maintained by local government agencies, extra testing is required to insure there is sufficient supply and pressure for laundry, washing dishes, nightly bubble baths, cooking, or drinking. Vancouver-based home inspectors from Details Home Inspections offer well flow testing throughout Southwest Washington, the greater Portland area, and beyond.
Their simplified well system inspections and well flow tests are non-invasive processes which don’t require taking things apart or complicated, muddy maneuvering. Inspector Brian Ross explains that both are designed to estimate the amount of water you’ll see coming through internal fixtures like sinks and showers. There are minimum requirements for this flow rate and results are important, for example, to buyers looking for their first, next, or forever home.
Avid watchers of HGTV have seen many house hunters test the pressure in kitchens and bathrooms. Water isn’t just pumped from point A to point B; it travels through an unseen maze before reaching you. If, at any point along the way, there are trouble spots, it’s important to know about them quickly so costly repairs—and lengthy dry spells—are avoided.
“Production is affected by the well, water pump, water tank, pump controls, supply piping, height of the building, strainers, and the condition of the fixtures,” says Ross. After their initial inspection, homeowners can decide if additional testing is needed by a specialist.
During the well flow test, the team estimates flow-rate capacity of your home’s system. This documents the ability of your well pump to adequately do its job. “However,” says Ross, “this estimate is impacted by a number of variables, such as the size/type of fixtures, strainers, faucets, pipe diameters, pipe clogs, the buildings distribution piping and the pump size, pressure tank, and water storage tank.”
Well flow testing does not include water quality testing but Details Home Inspections does offer that service. Remember, says Ross, “in most counties when you buy or sell a home with a private well, the county health or planning department, or the lending institution involved, may require the seller to provide water-sampling results to show the water is safe to drink.”
Lenders and realtors may instigate or ask for testing as part of the home buying process. Industry experts say that “Getting a well inspection before you purchase a home can save you a lot of time, energy, and money. For instance, if you discover a well needs expensive repairs or the water isn’t safe to drink or use, you may want to reconsider your purchase. Or you could negotiate a lower deal with the seller.”
For buyers, the experts advise that “you’ll likely only have to worry about a well inspection if you’re purchasing a home in a more rural area. Many rural homes aren’t connected to public water services. This means should anything go wrong, you won’t receive help from the city. You’re on your own for any repairs or added filtration systems.”
When you’re ready to know your flow, schedule an appointment with Details Home Inspections online, call 360.823.3034, or submit your questions and someone from the team will get back to you ASAP. Don’t wait until components fail or you could find yourself washing dishes with a trickle or showering drop by drop. Our homes are a vital supply of water. Laundry, dishes, sticky kids, stinky pets, cold drinks, and happy goldfish are just a drop in the bucket. Let Details Home Inspections keep your water flowing.
Home Inspection Blog
We’ve all heard that home is where the heart is, and where our story begins. Home means pretty things to the makers of inspirational signs, bumper stickers, and fuzzy blankets. But hire a licensed home inspector to survey the property before listing it for sale and you’ll realize there’s plenty going on beneath the surface of your picture-perfect home sweet home. Brian Ross and the team at Vancouver’s Details Home Inspections offer pre-listing inspections to keep costly surprises at bay and bring in those top dollar offers.
Bankrate explains that during a pre-listing inspection “a professional home inspector examines your property to identify any potential problems or repairs that need to be made. Think of it as an opportunity to know what the buyer might request before an offer is made or a purchase agreement is signed.”
At Details Home Inspection, interior examinations include heating, plumbing, electrical, visible piping, faucets and fixtures, attic/crawl/basement areas, kitchen, walls, floors, ceilings, and windows. Outside they’ll look over your roof, chimney, flashing, valleys, siding, trim, windows and storm windows, driveways, patios, decks, porches, and any exterior air conditioning units or heat pumps.
While a pre-listing inspection isn’t always required, it’s always a good idea. Potential buyers will use even the smallest issues to drive down price or wrangle adjustments to closing costs and fees. Inspecting things beforehand streamlines the process and in today’s red-hot market, that can be the difference between getting top dollar and scrambling to make repairs before the contract expires.
Pre-listing inspections can also expedite closing schedules. Having that inspection in hand lets the buyer know what to expect and shows that the seller has nothing to hide when it comes to their listing. In real estate, time is always money.
“Let’s say your pre-listing inspection turns up some issues with the home’s plumbing,” say Bankrate’s industry experts. “If a buyer finds those same issues and asks for a $3,000 credit or concession, you’d ultimately be making less on the sale. With a pre-listing inspection, you can fix it yourself and potentially build those repair costs into your list price.”
With Details Home Inspections, pricing is based on square footage and the age of the home. You can also choose to add on or arrange for stand-alone services like radon testing, sewer scoping, water quality testing, and energy score rating. They provide quality home inspections across Southwest Washington, the greater Portland Oregon area, and surrounding cities.
In some ways real estate has its own language. When buying or selling, it may seem like home inspection and home appraisal are interchangeable terms. But, says Bankrate, “It’s important to note that neither type of inspection [pre-listing versus standard home inspection] is a substitute for an appraisal. An appraisal is an assessment of the fair market value of your home, which includes external factors such as the neighborhood and local real estate market. In most cases, a mortgage lender will require one in order for the buyer to obtain a mortgage.”
When you’re ready to take the next step, contact Brian Ross and his team or schedule an appointment online for current availability and pricing. They’re happy to answer questions, explain common terminology, or provide a sample report to look over in advance. Still unsure? Read through the many positive reviews and recommendations from families like yours then book your home inspection today.
You’ve decided to sell, that’s the hardest part. Now let Details Home Inspections do the dirty work so you can move on to your next—or forever—home. Big or small, vintage or new construction, condo or manufactured home, they’ll tackle it all.
