As the weather begins to heat up, now is the time to make sure your HVAC system is performing at a high level. Basic, preventative maintenance can save you a lot of time, money, and agony by ensuring your HVAC unit doesn’t stop running when the weather is hot.
Check Your Condenser Unit
If your heating and cooling units are outside, you’ll want to clear any debris that may have formed on or around your unit since the last time it was cleaned. Branches, lawn trimmings, and dirt should be cleared away from the area surrounding your condenser unit to keep it running at a high level. While you’re at it, you can remove the outer cover from your unit and use a vacuum or garden hose to clear away any debris that has formed on or in the unit. Additionally, making sure your condenser unit is level ensures that the refrigerant is being distributed evenly throughout the system. Taking these basic steps to take care of your outdoor unit can be the difference between comfort and misery when the summer months come around.
Change the Air Filter
Changing the air filter of your HVAC unit is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your system operating at its best. Not only does it keep the air circulating evenly throughout your home, but it removes allergy-inducing contaminants like dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander from the system. A fresh air filter can have an immediate impact on your unit’s ability to keep your home cool. This is an easy, affordable way to ensure that your house is cool and free of allergens for the foreseeable future.
Clean Vents and Ducts
Replacing your air filters is a great way to keep the air clean in your home. However, you should also clean any accessible ducts and vents to remove those allergens from your system. Additionally, if your air ducts haven’t been cleaned in recent memory, it may be a good idea to schedule a thorough cleaning of your air ducts by a professional. Also, you can ask a professional to test the cleanliness of your ducts if you’re unsure.
Scheduled Maintenance by a Professional
Following these tips will help you maintain your HVAC unit and keep it running during the upcoming summer months. However, hiring a professional at least twice a year to service your HVAC unit is best to ensure that potential issues and hazards don’t go unnoticed. An HVAC specialist can do things like test for leaks, test the thermostat, check refrigerant levels, and more.