Spring is the perfect time of year to get your HVAC system prepped and ready to take on the hot summer months ahead. Neglecting springtime cleanup can lead to higher energy bills, increased wear and tear on your system, and even a shorter lifespan. While it’s necessary to change your filter, there are other critical parts of the maintenance process that you simply don’t want to overlook. This can go a long way in helping to reduce unexpected breakdowns during the hot summer season.
Stock Up on Air Filters
The air filter is specifically designed to trap airborne contaminants before they enter the inside of your HVAC system. This is great for protecting its longevity and for enhancing your indoor air quality. Before the summer settles in, it’s best to put a brand new filter in your system.
What most homeowners often overlook is always having a spare filter ready to go. It’s important to check your air filter once a month and replace it whenever you can’t see through it. While you may check your filter once a month, you could put off replacing it if you want a spare filter ready to go. It’s a good rule of thumb to always have at least one or two spare filters so that you can do a replacement when it’s necessary.
Another detail a lot of homeowners overlook is the MERV rating that the air filter has. All HVAC air filters have a rating that ranges anywhere from 1 to over 20. When it comes to residential HVAC systems, you can choose a filter with a rating between 1 and 13. If you or someone in your household suffers from asthma, allergies, or respiratory issues, consider upgrading to a filter with a rating between 11 and 13. This will give you the best balance of filtering capabilities while still allowing your system to operate efficiently.
Clean Around Your Condenser Unit
It can be easy to prioritize the inside components of your air conditioning system and completely disregard your outdoor condenser unit. This holds especially true if you don’t cover it in the wintertime. You may not even think to go look at it. Unfortunately, any debris pushed up against your outdoor condenser unit can restrict airflow. This will reduce system efficiency and can even lead to a breakdown.
During the spring months, before you turn on your air conditioning system, you should evaluate your outdoor condenser unit. Remove any debris that’s pushed up against the unit, like leaves or twigs. You should trim back any shrubbery or low-hanging branches that are within two to three feet of the unit. Ideally, you want around two to three feet of open space surrounding the entire unit to allow for adequate airflow.
Another component you want to take a look at when you’re at your condenser unit is its metal fins. For them to operate efficiently, they need to be in a straight position. If the fin is bent because something hit the unit or someone leaned up against it, it can restrict airflow around the fin. This will reduce system efficiency. When large amounts of fins are bent, you can easily bend the fin back to its original position by using a fin comb or a flathead screwdriver.
Check Your Air Vents and Ducting
If you have a central air conditioning system or a heat pump that relies on traditional ductwork, you want to take the time to inspect your air vents and your ducting. Walk around each room of your home and ensure that each air vent is completely open and unobstructed. Any items like furniture, rugs, or even plants can obstruct the airflow at the vent and reduce system performance.
Additionally, you want to take a look at any of the exposed ducts in your house. This will be most common in your utility closet, basement, or crawl space. More specifically, you want to look for any areas where joints are pulling apart. You may see light through it or visible corrosion.
When repairing any ductwork issues, it’s important to use specialized foil tape. This tape is specifically designed to stay adhered during extreme temperature swings. Using traditional duct tape will not last for the long term, as it will lose its adherence as the temperature changes. It’s a good rule of thumb to have a professional thoroughly clean your ductwork about every three to five years. And you should have your ductwork resealed about every eight to ten years.
Program Your Thermostat
One part of your spring cleaning checklist you don’t want to forget about is your thermostat. Most homeowners remember to switch it from heating to cooling when they need their air conditioner. However, one of the details that a lot of homeowners miss is programming their thermostat. If you have a smart or programmable thermostat, you could be maximizing your energy savings while eliminating energy waste.
Aim for setting the temperature lower at times when you’re home and higher at times when you know no one’s home. This will ensure that your system runs less often when no one’s there to enjoy the cold air that it produces. Spring is also a great time to go ahead and put new batteries inside your thermostat so that you don’t have to deal with a malfunctioning thermostat in the middle of the summer season.
Schedule Professional Service
If you do all the things that we discussed above, you may find that it’s not necessary to schedule professional maintenance. Unfortunately, that would be a bad decision as it could void the warranty coverage on your unit. Manufacturers typically require homeowners to have a certified technician come in at least once a year to service the unit. If you fail to do so, they may deny any future warranty claims you submit for repairs.
Professional maintenance is a very in-depth service that goes over all the internal components of your system to ensure that they’re working properly. This means checking electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, cleaning coils, recharging refrigerant levels, and so much more. When you schedule professional service for your system, it can go a long way in catching small problems to avoid major system breakdowns.
The Benefits of the Right Spring HVAC Cleaning Plan
Following the HVAC cleaning maintenance plan above comes with many benefits. One of the most obvious is that it improves your indoor air quality level. This is exceedingly important during the springtime when allergies are at their worst. This cleaning ensures that your system is operating as efficiently as possible. It also reduces energy waste, which translates to lower energy bills for you.
When your system gets the care it needs to function optimally, it will last much longer. You will experience fewer emergency repairs, which can go a long way in giving you peace of mind. Routine cleaning also enforces proper system airflow to enhance your overall comfort throughout the entire summer season.
Reliable AC Maintenance Service
Healthy Home Heating & Cooling LLC provides reliable AC maintenance service for De Pere, WI and the surrounding communities. We can also assist with all your AC installation, repair, replacement, and indoor air quality needs. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced AC technicians.
