As spring approaches, it’s important that you put some consideration into making sure your HVAC system is ready to go once the weather starts heating back up. Performing some basic tasks to prepare your HVAC system can help keep your energy bills lower and make sure your air conditioning cools effectively. Preparing your HVAC system also has the benefit of lessening the chances of your air conditioning breaking down and no longer working at some point over the summer. Here, we’ll explore the steps you should take this spring to get your HVAC system ready and why each one of them is important.
Check the Outdoor Unit for Debris
One thing you always want to do before turning your air conditioning on for the first time is go outside and quickly check your AC condenser or heat pump for debris. Specifically, you want to make sure to clear away any leaves that have piled up around the unit over the fall/winter. That way the unit has proper airflow and will work as well as it should. If the sides of the unit are clogged with leaves and debris, it will lead to decreased performance and increased energy usage.
Insufficient airflow can also lead to the unit’s compressor overheating and potentially suffering damage or causing the AC system to frequently shut down too soon. This is why you also want to make sure you always make sure to keep any vegetation trimmed back so that the unit has the proper amount of clearance.
The other thing you want to do is make sure no sticks have gotten into the unit that could interfere with the condenser fan. The biggest concern is if there’s a larger stick that prevents the fan blades from turning as this can quickly cause the fan motor to burn out or suffer major damage.
Put in a New Air Filter
You normally want to replace the air filter in an HVAC system around once every 60 to 90 days. However, you may not need to replace the filter quite this often during the winter in Texas as a result of your heating typically not running that much. That said, if you haven’t replaced the filter within the past few months, you should definitely do so before switching on your air conditioning.
A dirty air filter negatively impacts an HVAC system’s performance and energy efficiency by restricting how much air can get drawn into the system. Another common thing that happens when the incoming airflow is reduced is that the AC evaporator coil frequently freezes up. This can lead to the system not being able to cool at all until the coil thaws out. An even bigger concern is that an HVAC system typically doesn’t last as long if its filter isn’t replaced often enough. These reasons are why it’s a good idea to change the air filter at the start of the cooling season. You should then continually monitor it and replace it as needed throughout the rest of the season.
Adjust Your Thermostat Settings
This one is fairly obvious, but it’s still important to mention since it impacts your energy bills. You typically won’t need to rely on your air conditioning that much in spring. As such, you should make sure to turn the temperature up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit or so during the day so the AC runs as little as possible. You then want to program the thermostat to change back to your normal desired temperature an hour or so before you normally get home from work. That way you can minimize energy usage while still ensuring your house is comfortable in the afternoon/evening.
One other thing we recommend is using a kitchen thermometer and testing to make sure your thermostat is still reading the correct temperature. If there’s more than a 1-2 degree difference between what the thermostat shows and the thermometer reading, you’ll want to have an HVAC company check out your thermostat. In some cases, it may just be that the inside of the thermostat needs to be cleaned or that it needs to be recalibrated. However, it can also indicate that the thermostat no longer works correctly and should be replaced.
Clean and Open All Vents
Supply and return air vents often end up starting to clog over the winter when a home is sealed up tight. Return air vents are especially prone to clogging since they are where air gets drawn into the HVAC system. Clogged vents can create major problems and prevent an HVAC system from properly circulating air into each room. If your supply vents are clogged, the system also won’t cool nearly as well as a result of much less warm getting drawn into the air handler.
That’s why it’s a good idea to clean all of the vents as part of your yearly spring cleaning. You can usually take the cover off most supply vents, and it’s a good idea to vacuum inside the vents as well since this helps prevent them from clogging again. You also want to make sure that every vent is open and no furniture is in front of a vent and obstructing the air flowing out of it.
Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Most professionals recommend having a duct cleaning service performed every few years. If it’s been more than three to five years since you’ve had your ductwork cleaned, it’s a good idea to have it done this spring. Duct cleaning helps to improve an HVAC system’s performance. It also helps make the air quality in a home better by limiting the amount of allergens the HVAC system spreads around the house. Hiring a professional to clean your air ducts can even make your home smell better by ensuring the air your HVAC system puts out doesn’t have a musty, off-putting odor.
Schedule an AC Maintenance Service
The best way to make fully certain that your HVAC system is ready for the coming heat is to have an experienced company perform a maintenance service. Maintaining an AC or heat pump system is fairly complex and involves a wide range of tasks that you won’t be able to effectively or correctly do on your own. This includes things like checking the refrigerant level, lubricating moving parts, cleaning the coils, inspecting and testing the wiring and electrical connections and much, much more.
Having this service done every spring provides many great benefits, including keeping your energy costs down, reducing the need for repairs and ensuring you receive effective cooling throughout the summer. It’s also important for ensuring that the warranty on your HVAC equipment remains valid. By having your HVAC system serviced each spring, you may even be able to extend its lifespan by a couple of years.
Contact Us Today
For over 20 years, Affordable Air has been one of the most trusted HVAC services in Garland and the DFW Metroplex. We work on all makes, models and types of residential and commercial HVAC systems and have what it takes to ensure your system is ready. Whether it’s maintaining your AC system, performing any repairs or cleaning your air ducts, you can trust we’ll do the work properly.
To schedule an appointment and get the help you need to prepare your HVAC system for spring and summer, contact us today.
