An HVAC system doesn’t just happen to run efficiently and effectively on its own. Rather, it takes a little time and effort to prepare the system, clean it, and prepare it for summer. This comprehensive checklist will explore the areas to include for HVAC spring cleaning and preparing it to run efficiently and effectively all summer in Shawnee, KS.
Change Your Air Filter
One of the best things you can do to prepare your system is change your air filter regularly. It’s common for property owners to forget about this filter over the winter, so it could be time for a change. Ideally, check your filter every month so that you don’t forget to change it. Gently vacuum the intake side of the filter to help extend its effective lifespan.
Most 1- and 2-inch filters need replacing every 30 to 90 days, depending on your air quality and filter construction. Mid-sized 3- and 4-inch filters may last roughly six to nine months. Large 5- and 6-inch filters may last roughly nine months to a year.
Clear Around Your Outside Unit
Your outside air conditioner circulates refrigerant through a coil to vent the heat absorbed inside. To vent that heat, it must circulate air through the coil, which means the fan must work well and there can’t be any airflow restrictions in the system.
Check around your outside unit and clear away any debris around it. Most manufacturers recommend keeping at least 2 feet around the unit clear along with 5 feet above it. Clear away weeds, grass, built-up dirt, and landscaping architecture.
Airflow Restriction Checkup
Your indoor HVAC equipment must be able to circulate air throughout the system and your home. Aside from paying attention to your air filter, you need to ensure that air can flow into and out of your system. This means keeping your return and supply vents open and clear.
Check that all your supply vents are open and have several inches of space clear above and around them. You may have to move furniture to ensure none of them are covered. The clearance for return vents depends on their size, so check with the maintenance technician during your next visit from our team.
Control Relative Humidity
Humidity levels tend to rise during the summer months. This means that you may need some additional help to keep your home between 35% and 50%, which is the recommendation provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Your air conditioner or heat pump will help remove some of the humidity in your home. However, it may require some additional help during the more humid parts of the summer. Work with an air quality specialist to determine whether your home could benefit from a whole-home dehumidifier. A whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to remove moisture from the indoor air.
Dust Your Ceiling Fans and Change Settings
Your ceiling fans play a critical role in helping maintain your home’s comfort by keeping the air circulating. Over the summer, this process will provide a windchill effect that can make the air feel several degrees cooler.
Turn off the fan and dust the blades to help prevent adding contaminants to the air as it spins. Next, change the direction of the fan spins by flipping the switch on the side of the motor housing. Over the summer, the fan should rotate counterclockwise to push air downwards into your living spaces.
Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors play a critical role in providing an early warning when there’s a problem. Test each device to ensure that both are still working well. Plan to change the batteries in your smoke detector, even if it’s just a backup battery. Replace aging detectors, which are about 10 years for a smoke detector and 7 years for a carbon monoxide detector.
Check Household Ventilation
Ventilation is key to maintaining good indoor air quality, which affects your family’s health and how well your HVAC system runs. Over the summer, it can also play a key role in maintaining proper humidity levels. Start by checking and cleaning your ventilation equipment. Most homes have exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen. Consider adding an energy recovery ventilator, which helps cool the air coming into the home by transferring heat to the cooler outgoing air.
Upgrade an Aging Thermostat
Your HVAC system won’t run efficiently and effectively if your thermostat isn’t functioning properly. The lifespan for this equipment is usually 10 to 15 years for modern digital thermostats. When you upgrade, get a thermostat that has features to help you manage how much your air conditioner runs when you’re not there. Smart thermostats can often do this automatically by learning when you change the temperature most frequently along with inputs like the outside temperature and number of household occupants.
Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance
HVAC maintenance is a critical part of keeping your system running well, reducing repairs, and keeping your operating costs low. HVAC maintenance generally includes three categories: inspection and cleaning, tightening and tuning, and testing.
Inspection and Cleaning
Technicians start every maintenance visit by visually inspecting the unit and performing a deep cleaning. Visual inspections help identify where excessive corrosion may be occurring, which is an indication of an impending system replacement. The target areas our technicians will focus on for cleaning usually include the evaporator coil, condensing coil, and circulating fan.
Tightening and Tuning
Every HVAC system has various electrical connections that complete circuits between various components and the electrical system. While the system runs, the vibration it creates may loosen those connections, straining the system. That vibration may also loosen mounting hardware for components like the condensing fan blades, the compressor, and the circulating fan motor. Our maintenance technicians will check all of these and tighten them to reduce strain and wear on the system.
Testing
Any component working even slightly suboptimally adds strain to the rest of the system, increasing energy consumption and accelerating wear. A technician will conduct extensive testing during routine maintenance, including testing individual components and how the system cycles. This testing often reveals problems before they’ve had a chance to significantly affect the system or become noticeable to the average homeowner.
Fix Problems Early
It’s easy to ignore a problem if the system still appears to run and provides some cooling for your home. However, these small problems raise the baseline operating strain, making the system more susceptible to mid-season breakdowns. Aside from problems uncovered during maintenance, signs you may need to call for repair services include:
- Reduced airflow
- Insufficient cooling
- Bad odors, especially burning smells
- Gurgling sounds
- Screeching, grinding, or rattling sounds
- Short cycling
Having an efficient and effective HVAC system starts with preparing it properly for each season, including spring cleaning and maintenance. Air Care Heating & Cooling provides trusted heating and AC maintenance, repair, and installation services along with indoor air quality solutions for property owners around Shawnee. Call to schedule your HVAC maintenance appointment with one of our NATE-certified technicians today.
