Prepare your HVAC for Spring
Spring flowers are starting to peek through and things are starting to warm up outside, which means your HVAC will be switching over from heating to cooling pretty soon. To get the most out of your HVAC unit, routine maintenance on your A/C should be completed every spring and fall to ensure that things are running efficiently. This should be part of your spring cleaning checklist every year. Properly maintained HVAC units run more efficiently and have a longer lifespan, which means you spend less money on your heating and cooling bills and you don’t have to replace your current unit as quickly.
Here are some quick tips to prepare your HVAC for spring.
Replace Filters – the easiest way to help your HVAC unit run smoothly is something you should be doing regularly, throughout the year: change the filters. Most filters should be changed every 3 months, but the packaging will tell you the exact lifespan. Another factor to consider is your home environment. If you live in a home with pets, smoking, or with someone who has severe allergies, you may want to change the filters more frequently. If you love to have your windows open, and notice pollen floating into your home, its probably in the filter as well. There are many benefits to having a clean filter. Air quality is important to the health of your family and the filter removes mold, mildew, allergens, bacteria, and other particles that float through your home. As the filter fills with these airborne irritants, it may not filter as well. Another issue is that as the filter becomes full, the HVAC unit must work harder to push through the filter. This means your unit may not be performing as efficiently as it could and you could be shortening its lifespan.To prepare your HVAC for spring, simply replace the filter every 3 months. If you aren’t sure how to do this, talk to Weather Crafters and we will be happy to walk you through it. Another great idea is to have scheduled filter deliveries. This way you don’t have to keep track of when to change the filter. When the new filter arrives, you know it’s time to change the old one!
Remove Debris – As part of spring cleaning, you are probably doing yardwork – landscaping, raking up old leaves, and sprucing things up. Spend a few extra minutes cleaning up around your outdoor HVAC unit. The big grey box, known as the condenser, needs to have room to work. If you stand next to it when it’s running, you will probably feel some warm air coming out. The condenser’s job is to take the hot air that is collected in your home, and release the heat outside. If the vents and fan are blocked by debris, such as leaves and sticks, then it can’t release the air as efficiently. A machine that is working harder uses more electricity and has a shorter lifespan than one that is able to run efficiently.
Remove Covers – this is an easy step that can be disastrous if it is skipped. If you have a cover on your condenser (the large grey box outside your home), make sure you remove it before running the air conditioning. Covers are great for when you are not running the air conditioning, because it prevents debris from getting in. However, if the cover stays on, the unit won’t be able to make much cool air.
Thermostat Upgrade – To prepare your HVAC for spring, consider an upgrade. If you have a traditional thermostat, install a smart thermostat that can be controlled by a smartphone. This allows you to remotely control the temperature in your home. If you go away on vacation and forget to set the temperature, no problem. Simply use the app on your phone to adjust things while you are away. Another great feature of smart thermostats is that they learn your habits. If you adjust the temperature just before bedtime every night, the thermostat will remember and start doing it for you. Smart thermostats use data to help your HVAC unit run more efficiently, saving you stress and money.
Routine Maintenance – the best way to prepare your HVAC for spring is to have annual maintenance scheduled at the same time each year. Most HVAC specialists recommend having a trained technician complete maintenance every spring and fall – right before you switch from heat to air conditioning, and vice versa. At Weather Crafters we are highly trained HVAC specialists who have years of experience. Not only can we complete regular checks and tune ups, but we have the knowledge to catch small issues before they become big problems. By working with the same HVAC company every time, the specialists can become familiar with your unit and help it to run efficiently.
At Weather Crafters we are here to help with all your HVAC needs. If you have questions about what filter to use, or what that noise is, we’ve got you covered. Give us a call today to schedule your routine maintenance!
For more information on how to prepare your HVAC for spring, check out https://esmithair.com/articles/5-ways-spring-clean-hvac-system
