Maintenance & Seasonal
How do I get my AC ready for an Iowa summer?
A spring checklist for Des Moines homeowners — test and prep your cooling now so a problem shows up while it’s easy to fix, not in the middle of the first heat wave.
Spring checklist
What should I do to prep my AC in spring?
In Des Moines, IA, prep the AC in spring, before the first humid heat: replace the filter, clear and rinse the outdoor condenser, check the condensate drain, test cooling on an early warm day, and book a tune-up. Catching a problem now means service is easy to schedule — not a wait during a heat wave.
- 1
Swap in a fresh air filter
Start the cooling season with a clean filter so the AC gets full airflow from the first run.
- 2
Uncover and clear the outdoor condenser
Remove any winter cover, pull out leaves and debris, and keep about two feet of clearance on all sides.
- 3
Gently rinse the condenser fins
With the power off, rinse the outdoor coil from the inside out with a garden hose to wash off a winter of grime.
- 4
Check the condensate drain
Confirm the drain line is clear so it can handle the heavy condensation of a humid Iowa summer without overflowing.
- 5
Open and unblock the vents
Make sure supply registers and return grilles are open and clear of furniture and rugs so cool air can circulate.
- 6
Test the AC on an early warm day
Run cooling on a mild spring day and confirm cold air arrives quickly and the house actually cools — while service is still easy to book.
- 7
Set the thermostat for the season
Update schedules or fresh batteries, and if you have a heat pump, confirm it switches cleanly from heating to cooling.
- 8
Book a professional cooling tune-up
Have a technician check refrigerant, clean the coils, and inspect electrical before the first heat wave puts the system under load.
Want the cooling tune-up handled automatically each spring? Our maintenance plans schedule it before each IA summer so your AC is checked before you need it.
Iowa local truth
“Wait until the first 90-degree day to turn on the AC.” By then, so is everyone else. Test cooling on an early warm spring day instead — if it struggles, you can get service before the Des Moines heat-wave rush, when same-week appointments disappear and an outage is hardest to bear.
Common questions
When should I prep my AC for summer in Iowa?
Do it in spring, before the first stretch of humid heat. Iowa summers can turn hot fast, so testing in spring leaves time to fix anything before a heat wave when service calendars fill up.
Should I run my AC to test it before summer?
Yes. Run cooling on an early warm spring day to confirm it works. If outdoor temperatures are below about 60 degrees, keep the test short, since running an AC in cold weather can affect refrigerant pressure readings.
Do I need a tune-up if my AC seems fine?
It is still worth it. A spring tune-up catches low refrigerant, dirty coils, and worn electrical parts that work today but fail under a full summer load — the issues a quick self-test will not reveal.
Can you handle the spring AC prep for me?
Yes. All Seasons HVAC maintenance plans include a spring cooling tune-up that covers the professional steps, scheduled before each Iowa summer so you do not have to remember to call.