Prepare Your HVAC System for Spring & Summer

As winter ends and spring begins, your HVAC system could use a little attention. Even the best residential and commercial systems need routine maintenance. Spring is prime time to do this as your unit shifts from keeping everything warm to keeping everything cool. Harsh winter weather can bring moisture to your unit, causing rust.

Outdoor units need periodic cleaning for proper ventilation and inspection of the components for leaks and damage due to the elements. This can reduce the need for emergent repairs, keep repair costs lower, increase efficiency, and extend the life of your unit.

Don’t fret – this inspection can be done in as little as 15 minutes, and you will have peace of mind that your investment is being taken care of. Making this part of your annual spring-cleaning routine is a great way to ensure your HVAC system is operating effectively between your annual inspections.

What you may need:

• Replacement air filter

• Screwdriver

• Dry dusting cloth

• Damp cloth

• Bucket with warm water

• Degreaser

• Broom

Indoors

Inspect and clean indoor equipment. This will gather dust or damage when it’s not in use. Inspecting any indoor components like vents/ductwork, fans/blades and blowers, and coils to see if they need cleaning.

Accessible Indoor Components

Fans and blades are among the components that are typically easily accessible for homeowners on heating and cooling systems. Wipe these inside parts of your system down to remove dust and debris.

Air Filters

Inspecting your air filters and changing them when they’re dirty or clogged can improve your unit’s energy costs and keep your indoor air quality clean. Dirty filters make your unit work harder than it has to, shortening its lifespan and increasing the likelihood of repairs.

Air filters should be checked monthly. Many factors impact how often a filter is changed, such as the type of filter, the air quality outside, using your unit more than average, keeping the fan “ON” 24/7, the number of people and/or pets in your home, the size of your home, etc.

Air Vents and Registers

Vents, registers, and covers are known for collecting dust and hair, amongst other things. You can unscrew/remove the registers, wipe down the covers, and wipe the inside of the ducts with a damp cloth. It is a good idea to use a bucket with warm, soapy water to rinse your cloth in. You might be surprised at what you find. Ceiling or floor, they will become coated with gunk over time. Cleaning these helps ensure optimal air flow.

Other Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality:

• Clean your ceiling fans. Dust the fan and the blades, using a damp cloth when needed.

• Cleaning your windows. Dirt, dust, mold, and other allergens can build up on your windows. Cleaning them at regular intervals can improve your indoor air quality.

• Kitchen ventilation. Cleaning exhaust hoods, ducts, vents, and fans. Wipe these down with a damp cloth, soak removable components in warm soapy warm water, or use a degreaser for tough areas.

• Bathroom ventilation. Cleaning the dust and debris that builds up on vents and fans helps prevent mold and mildew growth. Use a damp cloth.

Check Thermostats

Ensure the buttons or display is functioning properly and replace batteries when needed. Check the schedule to ensure optimal energy efficiency. 

Outdoors

Inspect your outdoor equipment and clean as needed. Debris tends to accumulate around outdoor units. Sweep around the unit and remove excess junk and, where applicable, open the unit to see if anything slipped inside and remove it.

Why Should I Call A Professional?

Most people feel comfortable doing a limited amount of maintenance to their investments, but not everything is a DIY job. Below, you will find additional routine maintenance tasks that you may want an experienced professional to do instead:

• Inspect electrical connections. Wear and tear can cause parts to wear down or loosen over time. Having them regularly inspected, cleaned, and tightened can prevent costly damages in the future.

• Lubricate internal components.

• Check refrigerant levels and look for leaks. It only takes a tiny leak to cause refrigerant to move into the air. Identifying leaks, replacing lost refrigerant, and thoroughly inspecting the unit for any needed repairs due to the leaks can prevent future problems.

• Inspect and clean drain lines. HVAC units need to drain excess moisture it creates when the air conditioner operates. The drain looks like a small hose. Check this hose after running the air conditioner for a few hours. If there is no drainage, the line may be clogged. This can damage your unit.

• Check for air leaks. Not the unit – the building. Houses and businesses alike need to regularly be checked for air leaks, as this can impact how well your unit keeps the building comfortable. Exterior corners, plumbing, outlets, doors/windows, baseboards, attics, fireplaces, etc.

• Clean and dry the dehumidifier. Drying out the dehumidifier can increase efficiency and protect from damage.

• Test airflow. Blockages can reduce efficiency by as much as 15%, making this an important part of maintenance. Clean blower components to promote proper airflow.

Schedule Your Routine Preventative Maintenance Appointment - Call Us Today!

At Pure Green Mechanical, our client is our top priority. We want your investment to maintain peak performance and keep your home or your business at an ideal temperature year-round. That’s why we’re providing a printable PDF containing an HVAC maintenance checklist you can bring with you as you inspect your HVAC system.

Don’t feel comfortable performing some (or all) of these tasks? That’s okay – that’s where we come in. A technician can do everything above for you. Give us a call today to schedule your routine preventative maintenance inspection and let us do the work for you. We can even show you what you should (and should not) be cleaning yourself.

Download our handy HVAC Spring & Summer Maintenance checklist below:

Pure Green Mechanical's Spring & Summer Maintenance Checklist