With the weather quickly starting to heat up, now is the time that you need to start getting your HVAC system ready to make sure it can handle the high temperatures and humidity.
By preparing ahead and following this spring HVAC checklist, you can ensure your home or business remains fully cool all summer and hopefully avoid encountering major problems.
Why Spring HVAC Maintenance Is Important
All HVAC systems need some help to continue providing effective cooling and functioning efficiently. Neglecting to take the necessary steps to prepare and maintain your AC is always going to cause trouble sooner or later. Getting your AC ready before peak summer season hits and its workload greatly increases will help you to enjoy all of the following benefits:
- Lower chances of sudden breakdowns
- Reduced repair needs
- Lower electricity bills
- Longer lifespan for your AC equipment
Change AC Filters
One mistake far too many people make is not changing their air filters often enough. These filters can get extremely clogged over time and contribute to a major drop in performance. If you run your AC with a clogged filter, it will often lead to your electricity bills being around 15% higher. A clogged filter also forces the system to work harder, which increases the chances of it breaking down or developing major issues.
The air filter in most HVAC systems is located in the return duct just next to the furnace and AC air handler. However, some systems have one filter located behind the cover on each return vent. Changing the filter is as simple as removing the dirty one and sliding a new one in its place.
The recommendation is that you should replace AC filters every 60 to 90 days. It’s a good idea to inspect the filter monthly so that you know when it’s beginning to clog and should be replaced.
Open and Clear Vents
One key to effective cooling performance is ensuring that all supply vents and registers are open, clean and not blocked by furniture. Closed and blocked vents interfere with air circulation and cause the conditioned air to build up inside certain ducts.
This creates increased resistance inside the ducts, making it more difficult for the blower to move air around the house. The increased resistance also results in the blower drawing less warm air in, causing a further reduction in cooling performance and an increase in energy consumption as well as wear and tear.
Clean Outdoor Condenser Unit
Making sure the outdoor condenser unit is clear of debris and cleaning the condenser coil in the unit are also essential for ensuring peak AC performance and avoiding certain issues. If the unit is clogged with debris, it won’t receive sufficient air and may often overheat. Insufficient airflow can make it impossible for the refrigerant to release all of its stored heat and lead to a substantial reduction in performance and efficiency. A dirty condenser coil is another major issue, as it can easily lead to at least a 30% reduction in energy efficiency.
Test Thermostat Settings
Another key to making sure your AC is ready is checking and testing your thermostat. That means switching to cooling mode and adjusting the temperature to where your AC should turn on. Once the system is running, you want to turn the temperature up to make sure that the thermostat shuts the system off when it should. One last thing you should do is use a thermometer to check that your thermostat is reading the right temperature and doesn’t need to be recalibrated.
Schedule Your Spring Tune-Up
While all of these other spring HVAC maintenance tips are important, the most important thing is to schedule a spring HVAC tune-up. HVAC maintenance is a comprehensive service that prepares your system for summer. This includes inspecting the wiring, testing the essential components, checking the refrigerant level, lubricating moving parts, and more.
All of these tasks are important for ensuring peak performance and reducing energy consumption. If the technician finds any issues during their inspection, getting them repaired before summer also greatly reduces the odds of your AC suddenly not working.
Call Home Comfort Services for Spring HVAC Maintenance
For more than 20 years, Home Comfort Services, Inc. has been providing top-notch HVAC services to homeowners in Niles, Park Ridge and throughout Northwest Chicagoland. We’re an American Standard Customer Care Dealer, and our technicians can work on HVAC equipment from a variety of brands. With our Comfort Maintenance Plans, you can ensure your maintenance needs are fully taken care of. You’ll also receive great benefits like priority scheduling and discounts on repairs and system replacements.
Get your AC ready for summer. Schedule a service call today.
