There's nothing worse than facing a summer with a broken (or even just struggling) air conditioning unit. Ask any one of our property managers, and they'll list it as the most popular complaint of the season. The good news is that there are several steps that you can take as a renter to avoid having issues with your air conditioning unit. As it turns out, a little bit of TLC goes a very long way.

In this article, we'll focus on eleven simple steps that you can take to help keep your air conditioner in tip-top condition. Most of these can easily be added to your Google or another calendar program to keep the reminders front and center.

1. Change air filters regularly. In most cases, this means once each month. In some instances (and with certain specialty filters) these intervals might be 60 or even 90 days. If in doubt, revisit the terms of your lease.
2. Don't crowd out your furnace or air handler. Make sure that there is a clear pathway for air intake, and that knick-knacks and other clutter aren't cramping your style.
3. Don't stack things on your duct-work system. If you've been utilizing space in your attic by stacking things on your duct-work, get up there ASAP and fix that problem! This can result in leaks in your ductwork that can really decrease your A/C's efficiency.
4. Check the status of your thermostat batteries at least two times each year. If your batteries get low, replace them.
5. Every three or four months, check your condensate drain line. Pay attention to see if there is any gunk or other build-up. It can often be clear, like a jelly. We recommend using a 50/50 mixture of hot water and white vinegar that is poured slowly down the PVC drain line. Repeat this a total of three times per treatment.
6. When you're mowing the lawn, point the discharge unit of your mower away from (never toward) your condensing unit. This can cause damage to your unit.
7. Twice a month, rinse off the outdoor condensing unit. Dirt and grime can accumulate and reduce the efficiency of your unit.
8. Carefully groom the landscaping around your outdoor unit. Keep long grass, branches, shrubbery or other debris clear of the condensing coils.
9. If you have dogs, consider creating a barrier around your outdoor unit to discourage them from urinating on the condenser, which can cause problems for your unit.
10. Ensure that the outdoor condenser unit is level. If you suspect that it's not, contact your property manager so they can send someone out for a quick inspection.
11. Make yourself easily accessible so that your property manager can schedule at least an annual HVAC service appointment to check function, freon levels, etc.

Remember - if your A/C goes out, while it may FEEL like an emergency, it isn't one in the literal sense. We will work with the owner of your property to get the issue taken care of as quickly as possible, but same day appointment aren't always possible and aren't legally required. Fortunately, we do have an extensive selection of highly-qualified A/C professionals on our Preferred Vendors' List who will be only too happy to come and save the day.