Summertime is primetime for breakdowns to important systems and appliances. It can be especially tough on your home’s air conditioning, piping, and refrigerator, not to mention your personal comfort. Today, we’ll give you five tips to help you minimize and prepare for summertime breakdowns.
1. Do routine maintenance for your air conditioner
Before you turn your air conditioner on for the first time—or even if it’s on all year, like for our friends in the South and West—take a couple of maintenance steps.
- Check your air filter and change as necessary. Filters can last anywhere from one month (thinner filters) to three months (higher-quality filters). If you have pets or live in fire-prone areas, you may need to change your filter more frequently.
- Clean debris out from your outdoor unit. Leaves and grass clippings can clog or cake onto your outdoor unit, making it less efficient and more likely to break down. Use a leaf blower or garden hose to clear debris away. If you notice animal nests, call an animal control expert (birds, raccoons, and other nesting animals can be aggressive).
Taking these simple steps can help you minimize the likelihood of breakdowns. It also helps your air conditioner run more efficiently, which could save you some money on energy bills.
2. Keep your house closed and fan turning the correct way
Running an air conditioner with doors and windows open is wasteful. So, if you plan to run your air conditioner, make sure you close all windows and doors to the outside. However, don’t close interior doors, which can waste energy.
Additionally, consider drawing any curtains you have within your home closed. UV rays from the sun can warm your house, forcing your air conditioner to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Blocking those rays, especially on south-facing walls, can help regulate your temperature.
Finally, if you have ceiling fans, make sure they’re turning counterclockwise in the summer.
For more tips on staying cool, check out our article about it.
3. Water deeply, infrequently, and at the right time
Summers are getting hotter and drier. If you want to maintain your lawn or garden, a good way to do so is by watering deeply and infrequently, rather than a little bit every day, and at the right time.
Watering deeply and infrequently promotes stronger root systems. That often means stronger, more vibrant plants and grasses.
Watering at the right time means watering when the sun and wind are at their weakest. Doing so helps maximize the amount of water your plants get by minimizing evaporation.
If you have a sprinkler system, a good time to water is typically between sunset and sunrise.
If you don’t have a watering system (and don’t want to wake up at 4 a.m. to water), the best times to water are (a) before 10 a.m. or (b) after 6 p.m.
4. Prevent your fridge from overheating
When the air around your fridge is too warm, it can cause your fridge to overheat. Here are a few steps to help you avoid overheating your fridge.
- Reduce oven use in the daytime. During the hottest parts of the day, try not to use your oven. It can warm up the air around your fridge, which can force your fridge to fight against higher room temperatures.
- Clean your fridge’s condenser coils. Whether they’re on the back or bottom of your fridge, take a brush and vacuum to them. Removing dust, pet hair, and grime keeps the condenser coils running more efficiently.
- Don’t overfill. If you put too many items in your fridge, it’s harder for cold air to disperse. That means more work for your fridge, which can lead to breakdowns.
Taking these steps, coupled with a Home Warranty Service Agreement from 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (2-10 HBW), can help you reduce the likelihood of breakdowns busting your budget.
5. Go online if you need to file a claim
If you have a Home Warranty Service Agreement from 2-10 HBW, you could have access to solutions to covered breakdowns. And if you don’t have one just yet, there’s no better time to protect your home and budget with a quality Service Agreement.
But sometimes, even if you take all the steps above, things break down anyway. To get the most out of your Service Agreement, make sure to take the following steps.
- If something breaks down, check your coverage first. Your coverage details are always available through your account at Homeowner Portal.
- After confirming that your coverage covers your breakdown, file your claim online right from your account. We’ve made it convenient for you to check coverage and file (if necessary) all from the same place.
Filing online can reduce hold times and help you find the right solution for your specific breakdown. It’s more efficient than calling in, too. So, if you need to file a claim for a covered breakdown, the best way to do so is online, right from your account.
And it gets better! Because even if you don’t have a claim to file, you can access great perks, such as the Appliance Discount Program, which gives you access to discounts of up to 65% on brand-name appliances!
2-10 HBW offers Home Warranty Service Agreement coverage for homeowners. Let us help you protect your home.
