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It may not be summer yet, but some people in the country have already started to experience summer level heat and humidity. Summers have been getting more and more brutal as the years have gone on, and it seems like everybody across the country is in for another hot and sticky summer. A lot of people don't think about the HVAC systems and air conditioning units until they need to use them, and when they go to fire them up they discover an array of issues. It's time to get out your temperature measurement systems and call your favorite repair man, since now is the time to check your cooling systems before the summer starts. Replace Your Air Filters A lot of home maintenance websites will tell you to simply check your air filters, but that would be a waste of time. If your AC or HVAC system uses air filters, it's 99% likely that they need to be changed. A lot of people don't change their air filters for years, but most air filters need to be changed every couple of months to keep circulating air clean. Dirty air filters won't just reduce your air quality; they'll also negatively affect your system's effectiveness. Do yourself a favor and buy some new filters, you won't regret your decision. Test Your Unit Before doing any of these tests have your machine run for a while (around 20 minutes) so that it's good and warmed up, and take note of the temperature in rooms before you conduct your tests. Also make sure that you have a temperature measurement device and air speed gauge to properly do the tests. Walk around your home and measure the air speed and temperature at each of your vents. The temperature of the air coming out of the vents should ideally be 20 degrees cooler than the air temperature of the room you tested before you turned the air on. If your measurements are less than 15 degrees or more than 25 degrees, it's possible that you have a problem with your system, or that you have an air leak and blockage in the vent. Check for Air Leaks In order to properly test for air leaks your windows and doors should tightly shut, all house ventilation fans should be turned on, and your air conditioner and its fan should also be shut off. The idea here is have air blowing out of the house because the blowing air creates a negative pressure inside the house, which means that the house will suck in air through any leaks outside. When you notice a patch of warm wet air, you know where you have your leak.
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temperature measurement devices, air conditioning,
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