As the winter season fades into nothing but a memory, it’s time to turn your attention to warmer spring weather. Most residents of Boston love the spring months, as temperatures climb, flowers bloom, and signs of summer are right around the corner. However, it’s not all fun and games during this time of the year. There are a variety of tasks to complete in and around your home, with spring HVAC maintenance at the top of your list.
Here are five ways to prepare your HVAC system for spring:
Change the Air Filter
As a general rule of thumb, you should change the air filter a minimum of once every 90 days.[i]
By doing so, there’s less worry about your filter becoming so clogged that it impacts the performance of your HVAC system. Of course, there are situations that call for you to change your filter sooner, such as if you’ve undergone a construction project with a lot of dust and debris.
Clean Return Air Vents and Floor Registers
It’s easy to focus so much time on your furnace and AC units that you overlook the importance of air vents and floor registers.[ii] Along with your regular spring cleaning, take this time to vacuum any loose debris that’s built up on the vents and registers. Going one step further, remove all vents and registers for a better view of what’s in your ducts. You may be surprised to find everything from food to pet hair to dust and general debris. Clean it all out now, before it causes you problems later.
Inspect and Clean Your AC Unit
Once the snowy season is gone for good, inspect and clean your outdoor AC unit. It went through a lot over the cold winter months, so nothing should surprise you.[iii] Do the following:
- Remove debris, such as leaves and twigs, that have accumulated around your unit
- Clean the condenser
- Vacuum the fins (be careful because these are delicate)
Turn Off Your Humidifier
If you have a whole-house humidifier attached to your furnace, now’s the time to turn it off. With springtime weather arriving, you’ll no longer need it to increase the moisture level in your home.
This is also a good time to change the humidifier pad, so that your unit is ready to fire up when cold weather once again moves into the area.
Level Your Unit
Your AC condenser unit may have been straight at the end of last season, but something changed over the winter. For example, if the ground shifted during the freeze and thaw, your unit may have done the same. Not only does this look bad from a curb appeal point of view, but it can also inhibit the performance of your AC. Does all this sound confusing? Are you concerned about causing more harm than good? Rather than risk a mistake when preparing your HVAC system for spring, contact us to ask questions, discuss your concerns, and schedule an appointment. We can visit your home, inspect your entire system, and ensure that it’s ready to provide top-notch performance over the warm months to come.
Sources:
[i] https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-often-to-change-a-furnace-filter/
[ii] https://www.hvac.com/blog/spring-cleaning-hvac-maintenance-checklist-items-that-should-be-added-to-your-list/
[iii] https://ushomefilter.com/spring-hvac-maintenance-checklist/
Categories:
Tips and Tricks
