When most people think of the transition into spring, they think of spring cleaning and preparing their house for the change in weather. However, cleaning isn’t the only type of preparation your house needs. During the change, your home’s HVAC system will be in particular need of attention.
So, what exactly does your home’s HVAC system need in the spring? This ultimate HVAC maintenance checklist will explain exactly this.
Why Spring HVAC Maintenance Is Important
When the seasons change, so does your HVAC system. You go from heating your home to cooling it and, thus, use entirely different parts of the system. Because of this, you also stress the system in an entirely different way.
This is important because these systems have been dormant for a long time. Over this time, something could have happened to them to negatively change how they operate. If this happened, the system could work poorly.
It is important to perform some HVAC maintenance to prevent something bad from happening when this switch takes place. A little system maintenance bolsters the system and prevents you from having to deal with full repairs later on. So, a little work in the present prevents you from having to do a lot of work later on.
HVAC Maintenance Checklist 2024
The HVAC maintenance checklist covers a lot of different things. However, there are a few things you should specifically look out for.
1. Change Your Air Filter
Your air filter protects your home by absorbing dust and dirt that would otherwise be directly injected into your home’s air. However, the filter cannot absorb things like this indefinitely; if it does, it will eventually clog. Plus, the more the filter absorbs, the more trouble air has making its way through the filter. Eventually, the filter will need to be replaced.
You can visually check your filter by removing it to see how dirty it is. If it looks bad, replace it immediately. However, even if it looks clean, you should still replace your filter every few months.
2. Check for Air Leaks
Your HVAC system can work as hard as it possibly can to heat or cool your home. However, if you have an opening that directly leads from your home’s interior to its exterior, you are directly working against your HVAC system.
To prevent this, look out for common leak locations when working through your HVAC maintenance checklist. Many people have gaps around their windows and doors where air tends to leak through. In these cases, you can patch the gaps or replace weather stripping. This additional insulation will prevent your HVAC system from having to work as hard when it is on.
3. Remove Debris Surrounding the Unit
As time passes, there is a chance that debris has built up around the condenser unit itself. Leaves and trash may have blown onto it, and plants may be starting to grow around it. In this case, you simply need to remove everything from around it. Giving your AC unit a little space will allow it to operate effectively and prevent anything from causing a problem later.
4. Clean Coils and Drain Lines
Your lines play a large role in allowing your system to operate properly. If they get clogged, damaged, or dirty, they can either make the system less effective or prevent it from operating entirely. Regularly cleaning them helps prevent this. Once again, it is a way to prevent a big problem from taking place by addressing the little problem first.
5. Keep Your Refrigerant Unit Level
Time can change a lot, including the way your unit sits. The foundation underneath it can be damaged and start to sag on one end, or the ground itself can sink. In these cases, the unit will start to slant. You may need to fix this issue yourself by propping it up.
6. Check Belts
Belts are another piece of your AC system that can wear out over time and, thus, are another thing that should be included in your HVAC maintenance plan. After all, these belts are in near-constant motion and, thus, exposed to some wear and tear. If you check them, you can see if they are starting to wear. If they are, replace them. This will prevent them from breaking unexpectedly on a much warmer day.
7. Inspect and Straighten Fins
Because of how AC units are constructed, the condenser fins are weak and open to damage. These fins can be easily bent out of place if something falls on them or something else happens to them. If they are bent like this, it will prevent them from working properly. Luckily, fixing them is relatively easy. For this portion of your HVAC maintenance, simply bend them back into place.
8. Adjust the Thermostat
Once you have everything else about your HVAC system maintained, you are almost ready to turn it on. Before you do, though, just make sure you adjust the thermostat to account for the change in temperature. If you have a smart thermostat, you can set the system to do this automatically.
While doing so, check the thermostat’s batteries. If they are getting worn out, consider replacing them so that the thermostat doesn’t just stop working suddenly.
9. Clean Registers and Vents
Unfortunately, dust and debris can still make their way into your home and air. Because of this, your floor registrars and ceiling vents can accumulate pet hair, dust, and other particles. A quick cleaning in the spring can take care of all of that gunk.
Simply wipe down the vents with warm, soapy water. You can either do this with a wet rag or remove them and wash them in the sink. Just make sure to dry them thoroughly before reinstalling them.
10. Call a Professional at the First Sign of Trouble
You can do all the work you want to maintain your HVAC system. However, if something serious happens, you will still need to call a professional.
In these cases, you want to call the professional as soon as possible to prevent further damage and keep your home comfortable. When you start hearing strange noises from the system or when you notice it working in odd ways, make the call. If you wait, the issue may end up getting worse and may even cost more to fix. Contacting a professional early helps you to avoid this situation.
Call Eanes for Professional HVAC Maintenance
If you are looking for a professional to help you with your HVAC maintenance or any other HVAC needs, make sure to call Eanes. We are a group of professionals well-versed in maintaining HVAC systems. We’ll be able to help you keep your system running right or to fix any issues that may arise.