This time of year is a great time to open the windows and do some deep spring cleaning.
With warmer days right around the corner, spring is also a great time to inspect and clean up your HVAC system.
Read on for some simple but very important check list items this spring.
Outside Air Conditioning Unit
Start here by visually inspecting the outside AC unit.
Carefully remove any leaves, twigs or branches that might have fallen inside, or into the condenser component, of your AC unit.
In order for the condenser coils and fan to work properly, all debris needs to be cleared away from the top and inside to prevent overheating, potential damage and work at optimum efficiency.
Take a damp cloth and wipe off any mud or dirt from the outside casing of the AC unit.
Sweep or blow away any other yard debris surrounding the unit for an overall cleaning up of the area.
Air Filter Change
With regular maintenance of your HVAC system, you’re used to changing your air filters at least every six months.
Spring is an excellent time to change the filter since you’ve been using the heat during cooler weather the last few months.
Dust and other impurities are captured by the filters, especially in a closed-up house, and it’s a good time to change them out with fresh ones.
Indoor Cleaning of Supply Vents and Registers
After changing your air filter and while going from room-to-room with your other spring cleaning jobs, don’t forget to clean and dust the air supply vents and registers.
Much like an air filter, supply vents and registers collect dust and are notorious for collecting pet hair.
Remove the vent covers and clean out with a damp cloth. Dry thoroughly and replace vent covers. If there’s a lot of dust and/or pet hair inside, vacuum out first before dusting with a damp cloth.
If you have a zoned HVAC system, don’t forget to uncover any unused AC vents that were covered during the cooler months.
For improved air quality especially if you have breathing conditions or have several pets that shed, consider scheduling an appointment to get your ducts professionally cleaned.
Thermostat Check
Spring is the time to test your thermostat to make sure in good working order. It may need to be re-set or recalibrated to accommodate new settings when switching from heat to cool settings.
If the control panel looks dim, change the batteries.
If you have a programmable thermostat, re-program to accommodate the warmer temperatures.
Air Conditioning Test Run
Once you’ve visually inspected and cleaned everything both indoors and out, it’s time to turn on your air conditioner for a test run.
As it’s running, check that the air is moving through the vents and if the room is cooling down properly.
If it doesn’t seem to be cooling down and the system isn’t showing signs of obvious malfunction or making noise, turn the thermostat off for a few minutes and try running another test.
If there still seems to be a problem with the air cooling down, contact an HVAC company in your area for a diagnostic inspection.
Schedule an HVAC Maintenance Inspection
While it’s highly recommended that you check off these items on your spring HVAC maintenance list, it’s also a great time for a professional HVAC inspection.
Much like a car inspection to find and correct issues before they turn into bigger problems, the same theory applies to your HVAC system.
An HVAC professional will do a more thorough inspection of your entire system including checking internal connections, functions and cleaning what you don’t have access to.
By addressing potential issues in spring, you can avoid your AC system breaking down during those hot, uncomfortable days of summer.
Conclusion
In Santa Rosa and surrounding Sonoma County areas, schedule your annual HVAC spring checkup and maintenance with the professionals at Dale HCS. We’re experts at making sure you’re comfortable all spring and summer long.