Proactive Steps To Keep Your AC Running Smoothly In Minnesota

Minnesota summers don’t mess around—and neither should your air conditioner. There’s one quick thing every homeowner should be doing to keep the cool air flowing and avoid a mid-July meltdown.

Here in the North Star State, a *lot* of homes are equipped with some form of air conditioning. This CBS Minnesota story reports that a whopping 91 percent of homes in the Midwest region have some form of air conditioning. (Or 'air con' as they say over in Europe.)

That wasn't always the case, though. Air conditioning became popular in the U.S. in the 1960s, though some larger mansions, including the White House, had it installed in the 1950s. Those units were mainly window air conditioners, however.

SEE ALSO: The Best AC Temp For Comfort & Savings in MN This Summer

These days, central air conditioning is much more common. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that roughly 75 percent of homes with air conditioning in Minnesota use central air, compared to just 22 percent for window units. And single-family homes are much more likely to have air conditioning, compared to apartments.

So if your home *does* have central air conditioning, when it's hot and humid, as it is right now here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the last thing you want to deal with is your air conditioning going out, right?

Here's one quick tip to help ensure your central air conditioning unit keeps pumping out the cold during our hot summer heat waves: Replace the filter and clean the coils on your outside unit!

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The Lowe's home improvement chain notes that outside air conditioning units in Minnesota often accumulate dirt, dust, and debris that can potentially clog the filter and reduce airflow-- which means your unit uses more energy and can sometimes struggle to keep your home cool.

They suggest doing the following 5 steps to your outside central air conditioning unit:

Replace the filter
Check the condenser lines
Clean the unit
Clean the coils
Rinse and replace

We had a new furnace and air conditioning system installed in our house in 2020, and thinking it was still 'new,' I never checked its condition until a few days ago. When I just checked the outside unit, I couldn't believe how dirty it was! I cleaned it as recommended, and it sure seems to take less time to cool our house down-- and keep it cool!

Check out the following video for more information. And, if you're looking to head to a place where Mother Nature takes care of the air conditioning, keep scrolling to check out the best Airbnb Stays By The Water In Minnesota this summer.