How do I get my AC ready for summer?

Getting your AC ready for a Minnesota summer takes about a half hour of simple homeowner steps — replace the filter, clear the outdoor unit, open the vents, and test it on a mild day — then a professional tune-up to handle what you can't check yourself. Do it in early spring, before the first heat wave, so any problem turns up on a calm day instead of the hottest one.

Your spring AC prep checklist

Work through these in order — most homeowners can do all six in an afternoon:

1. Replace the air filter. Start the season with a fresh filter. A clean filter protects airflow and efficiency from the very first run, and a clogged one is a top cause of weak cooling and frozen coils.
2. Clear and trim around the outdoor unit. Remove leaves, grass clippings, and winter debris, and trim plants and shrubs back about two feet on all sides so the condenser can pull in air freely.
3. Gently rinse the outdoor coil. Turn the power off at the outdoor disconnect first. Then rinse the coil fins with a regular garden hose, working from the inside out with gentle pressure — never a pressure washer, which bends the delicate fins.
4. Open and unblock the vents. Walk the house and make sure every supply and return register is open and clear of furniture, rugs, and curtains, so air can circulate the way the system expects.
5. Test on a mild day. Set the thermostat to COOL, a few degrees below room temperature, on a mild spring day. Confirm you get steady cold air — well before the first heat wave, so there's time to fix anything that's off.
6. Schedule a professional tune-up. Book your spring air conditioning tune-up to handle the measurements and cleaning the checklist can't.

What should you leave to a professional?

Your checklist covers the safe basics. Leave anything involving refrigerant, electrical components, or opening up the equipment to a licensed technician. During a tune-up we verify the refrigerant charge, test the capacitor and contactor, clean the coils thoroughly, clear the condensate drain, and confirm the whole system is performing to spec. Those steps need tools and training — and getting them wrong can damage the equipment or void your warranty.

Why timing matters in Minnesota

Our cooling season arrives fast. The classic Minnesota cadence is AC in spring, furnace in fall — and testing your air conditioner early is the whole point. If you discover a problem on a 60-degree April day, you have time to schedule a calm repair. Discover it on the first 90-degree afternoon and you're waiting in line with everyone else. A little prep now buys you comfort and peace of mind all summer. See how often to service your system for the full year-round schedule.

What if the AC still won't cool?

If you've changed the filter, cleared the unit, and set the thermostat to cool but you're still getting warm air, don't keep running it — that can make things worse. Our guide to why an AC blows warm air walks through the safe checks and the signs it's time to call. The simplest way to never think about any of this is to let us handle it: our maintenance plans keep your system on a regular maintenance schedule and your warranty protected. Ready to get on the spring schedule? Request service and we'll find a time before the heat hits.

Frequently asked questions