Summer is almost here, is your HVAC system ready to cool? It’s been working fine to heat the house during the colder months, but what if you don’t find out until the first hot day that you’re in need of HVAC maintenance?
To get your HVAC system ready for summer, here are five tips to follow to keep your house comfortable.
1. Do a Test Run
On a warmer spring day, turn on your air conditioning to see how it runs. If your house doesn’t cool or you experience unusual noises or smells, turn it off and schedule an air conditioning repair.
If everything seems to be running smoothly, do a check of the indoor system for damage. Water accumulation on the ground around signifies a leak that needs to be addressed, and fraying wires are a potential fire hazard.
2. Check the Outdoor Unit
The humble outdoor AC unit is the easiest part of the system to forget. It’s usually tucked away in some unused corner of your house or in a place so often looked at you don’t even register it anymore. Regardless, your outdoor condenser needs some love every once in a while.
Before you run your AC for the first time, check out the state of your outdoor unit. Fallen tree limbs, leaves, tall grass, and vines can all contribute to your air conditioning inefficiency. Ideally, there should be 2 feet of cleared space all around the unit.
Outdoor units are made to take some abuse, but they still need maintenance. Thankfully, cleaning your unit isn’t complicated and can be done on a nice spring afternoon
3. Clean the Vents
If your vents are clogged with dust, pet fur, or carpet fibers, the heating and cooling system will have to work extra hard to push the air where it needs to go. This will also rocket your cooling bill through the roof during those hottest months.
Go through each room with a rag and clean give the vent grills a good thorough cleaning. Check down the vents as far as you can see for built-up debris to remove.
4. Keep Up with Your Air Filter
Changing your air filter is an important part of HVAC maintenance that is required all year round. If your filter gets clogged with dander, dust, and other debris, it puts strain on the HVAC and can increase your utility bill.
5. Preventative Maintenance
HVAC systems have many moving parts and save you money when they work properly. The best way to keep your house energy-efficient and comfortable is to schedule routine maintenance performed by an HVAC company at the beginning of the cooling and heating season.
These visits may seem expensive or unnecessary, but they will prevent bigger expenses caused by neglect and damage.
HVAC Maintenance Made Simple
Following these HVAC tips will help keep your utility bills low and you and your family cool for the summer. Like with any home maintenance, HVAC maintenance will save you more money in the long run.
For more advice on keeping your house running smoothly, check out our Home Improvement section.
