They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By being aware of your home air conditioning system needs, you can provide the proper conditions to help it work correctly and efficiently. Recognizing the following needs will also help you trouble-shoot issues that come up. Otherwise, you’ll  keep turning the thermostat down without getting cool.

Air conditioning systems are complex machines. When any of the following things change, the system will not be able to cool your home correctly.

• The system is sized to meet a specific “load” on the house. The load is changed when more heat is created indoors either from more people or appliances or because of changes in the house. Having a party or did some family move back in? Did you do some remodeling? Maybe you added another refrigerator?

• A certain amount of refrigerant is required. No leaks allowed! Have a professional check the refrigerant level every two years.

• There has to be a particular amount of airflow across the coils in the outside condenser. Keep things like foliage, toys, fences and furniture from blocking the condenser. Make sure children don’t stuff foreign objects like sticks or grass into the condenser that might bend fins and block airflow.