The official beginning of spring is almost here, so get out your dust cloth, steam cleaner, vacuum, and trash bags and get ready to work! When many individuals prepare for a thorough and major cleaning project, they create a general to-do list as well as a room-by-room list of what needs to be trashed, donated, organized, cleaned, or bought. No matter what your very own process is—don’t neglect your HVAC this spring.
How in the world do you clean your HVAC aside from dusting off the dust bunnies?
The process isn’t necessarily all about cleaning; a portion of your HVAC spring cleaning checklist will include checking and maintaining; and the purpose of the items on the list are not to keep your HVAC sparkly clean on the outside—they are to keep it functioning and running smoothly on the inside.
The home experts at HGTV have a few recommendations of their own to keep your HVAC moving and grooving into the next season.
- Check your air-conditioning and heating equipment before the beginning of a new season.
- Check and replace your furnace and air-conditioning filters every month. There are several types from which to choose, depending on your needs. Fiberglass filters last only one month, while the filters typically last three to four months. HEPA filters last up to six months and can be cleaned with a vacuum nozzle.
- Most air conditioners have a drainage hole on the base of the cabinet, beneath the evaporator fins. This hole needs to be kept clear in order for the air conditioner to work properly. It’s a good idea each spring to use a paper clip or wire to poke through the hole and clear it.
- To keep a dehumidifier working properly, remove its housing and let the unit dry completely. Vacuum every accessible surface and crevice.
- Clean your bathroom fans once a year. Take the cover off, wash it in soapy water and clean dirt off the fan blades with a toothbrush. Be sure the power is off when you do this!
The heating and cooling professionals at Maytag listed a few additional tips on their site.
- Change the furnace filter. A dirty filter is an ineffective filter. It’s always a good idea to change your filter, at a minimum, once before the heating season (fall) and again at the start of the cooling season (spring). Just make sure you briefly turn off your equipment before you change your filters and/or hire a professional if it is in a tough-to-access place.
- Duct cleaning. There are a lot of gross things that can be lurking in your ductwork. Call a duct cleaning professional to get those ducts shiny so you’re not breathing in anything that’s been trapped in your ductwork. And, as an added bonus, a duct cleaning appointment can alert you to other problems your home may be having that you may not have been previously aware of – like mold.
- Get the system cleaned by a professional. You want your cooling system entering the summer in fighting condition. That’s why it is a good idea to have your system cleaned by a professional to maximize airflow and performance.
Not all of these things you will feel comfortable doing yourself, but you’d be surprised at how easy some are to do after watching a quick YouTube video or reading an online tutorial.
If all else fails…contact a professional!
Dale Heating Cooling and Sheetmetal can certainly help you maintain your HVAC system to ensure optimal efficiency for the upcoming summer weather. Be sure to call them in Santa Rosa, CA to set up an appointment!