Spring Checklist: Knock Off the Dust with HVAC Maintenance

You’ve been hibernating all winter, but March is the month when things start shifting in a warmer direction. If you’re like many homeowners, you may be eager to put winter behind you and embrace the promise of spring. Amid the flurry of organizing and cleaning, don’t neglect your furnace and air conditioning system. After all, spring is the prelude to another blistering summer, making this a perfect time to get your HVAC system in the best shape. Unsure what spring cleaning your HVAC system entails? Include these actions to your March home maintenance checklist.

Swap Out the Air Filter

The air filter is an extremely important piece of your HVAC system, protecting your finely tuned home comfort equipment from airborne particles and promoting cleaner indoor air. Consistently replace the air filter according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. If you have pets in your home or suffer from allergies, change the filter up to once a month to uphold indoor air quality. If not, replacing a dirty filter with a new one every three months is enough. In addition to removing airborne pollutants more successfully, a clean filter promotes better airflow to boost system efficiency by up to 15%.

Examine the Condensate Drain

Your air conditioning system doesn’t only cool your home—it also dehumidifies. The condensate drain is the key to removing extra moisture from your AC. The drain should be free-flowing and the connecting hose should be leak-free and correctly placed. Check on your condensate drain every time you replace the filter to keep your system running efficiently—and also help you spot early signs of water damage.

Get the Air Moving

Before firing up your home’s air conditioning system for the first time this spring, open your windows and doors to allow fresh air into your home. If you notice an excessively stuffy interior before taking this step, you may benefit by adding a whole-house ventilation system. This upgrade blows stale air outside and replaces it with clean, fresh air from outside. Certain equipment pre-cools and dehumidifies incoming air to decrease the impact on your energy costs while helping you breathe cleaner, healthier air.

Spring Clean Your Home

Thoroughly cleaning your home complements your HVAC maintenance checklist by decreasing the amount of dust and allergens that circulate through the system. Pay specific attention to these areas:

• Wipe down ceiling fan blades.
• Seal gaps around windows and doors using caulk or weather stripping.
• Scrub sliding glass door tracks.
• Vacuum debris out of the coils located beneath or behind the refrigerator.
• Clean light fixtures and exchange old incandescent bulbs for energy-saving LEDs.

Adjust Your Thermostat

If you haven’t yet discovered programmable or smart thermostats, spring is a perfect time to think about this affordable upgrade. A programmable thermostat makes a huge difference in your home’s comfort and energy use. Begin by setting the temperature to 78 degrees F when you’re at home. Next, program automatic setback periods of 7 to 10 degrees when everyone is out of the home during the day. With recovery periods scheduled for when residents of the home will return, you can enjoy up to 10% energy savings without sacrificing comfort.

A smart thermostat takes these advantages a step further by enabling you to make changes remotely. You can also check your energy usage in a mobile app and get individualized, cost-cutting tips.

Check Your Ductwork

Ductwork may develop leaks that negatively impact your air quality and increase your energy expenses. Sealing these leaks helps your HVAC equipment run more efficiently and flow clean, healthy air. Once sealed, insulate your ductwork to keep the air cool on its way to supply registers throughout your home.

Hose Debris From the Exterior Unit

The exterior condenser unit can become filled with debris during the cold season. Here’s how to spring clean it this March:

• Remove leaves, pine needles and grass clippings from around the unit.
• Delicately hose down the metal fins to remove dirt and cobwebs.
• Cut back nearby shrubs and grasses to create a one- to two-foot clearance.
• Study the unit for damage, such as missing insulation or bent fins.

• Contact a professional technician for AC service before the summer heat arrives. 

Test Your HVAC Unit

After completing your spring cleaning checklist, it’s time to turn on your HVAC system. Allow it to run for several minutes to check for adequate cooling. If you experience any problems, verify your thermostat is set correctly before contacting a professional for help.

Schedule AC Solutions in Fort Lauderdale with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If your HVAC system needs special service this spring, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is the team for the job. Our HVAC services help keep your home comfortable and energy efficient all the time. Enjoy fast, long-lasting solutions to all your comfort problems, backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. That’s right—if you’re not totally happy with our services, we’ll make it right. For a spring-ready AC system that provides efficiency and peace of mind, call 954-736-4314 to reach the heating and cooling authorities at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today.