5 Tips For Getting Your HVAC System Ready For Spring

Spring may have already arrived, but it’s not too late to get your HVAC system ready for the rest of the season. The last thing you need is to wait until the very first super hot day of the year, only to realize that your A/C isn’t working to its fullest capacity.

Air conditioners provide the much-needed relief from sweltering temperatures, and make interiors comfortable. Without a properly functioning air conditioning unit, not only will it not do its job properly, it will also cost you a bundle in operation. An ill-functioning A/C unit will have to work harder to cool a home adequately, which means more energy and more money will be required.

Luckily, there are things you can do right now to make sure that your HVAC system is working properly. This system is an important one, and should be maintained on a regular basis throughout the year to keep it running well for as long as possible. The short amount of time necessary to conduct such maintenance is well worth it when you consider the hassle and costs associated with repairs and replacement.

Here are 5 tips to get your HVAC system ready for the cooling season.

1. Clean Your Air Conditioner

Check on your air conditioner and see if it needs to be cleaned. Most likely, it will need to be, considering how long it’s been sitting there idle throughout the long winter. If the A/C unit is covered, remove the cover. Ensure that there are no obstructions to the air flow of the unit before you switch the thermostat to ‘cool’. This includes any grass, plants, paper, and so forth.

Clean the outside condenser so that you can save money on the running costs when the hot summer months approach. Wash it with warm water or vacuum it right after turning off the main disconnect. Just make sure that the control box and fan motor are kept dry at all times during the cleaning process.

2. Program the Thermostat

Make sure that the programmable thermostat is set properly for the cooling months that lie ahead. The important thing is to program the thermostat so that you can adjust times and temperatures according to your lifestyle. For example, if no one is home during the day, set the thermostat so that the A/C isn’t running full-blast, thereby costing you a bundle in cooling costs.

3. Flip Your Humidifier Switch Accordingly

There is a switch on your furnace humidifier that is labeled for ‘Winter’ and ‘Summer’. To turn the humidifier off, flip this switch. In addition, you should make it a habit of changing the water panel every 3 months throughout the humidifying season. Prior to flipping the switch back to ‘Winter’, replace the water panel. To make things more convenient, you should have a couple of replacements on hand so you don’t have to wait for the replacements to come in.

4. Change and Clean Your Furnace Filters

If your filters are dirty, they’ll obstruct air flow and make the system have to work harder, which will waste energy and money. You should already be checking on the filters on your furnace every 3 months or so to make sure they are clean. If they are dirty, you can easily clean them using a mild detergent. Or else, you might need to replace them altogether. If that’s the case, just make sure the airflow arrow matches the direction of the air flow of the duct.

5. Get a Heating and Cooling Expert to Annually Inspect Your HVAC System

An HVAC technician can check over, clean and lubricate your HVAC system, which should be done once a year before the heating season kicks in. If your system is overdue for a cleaning, make sure to call these experts, such as those at AccuTemp Heating & Cooling, to check the a-coil on the furnace and the A/C’s pressure.

Does Your Air-conditioning Unit Need to be Replaced?

If you suspect that your A/C unit needs replacement, it’s better to identify this need now before the sweltering weather of the summer arrives. There are some telltale signs that the unit might need to be replaced.

For instance, if you notice that you have to crank the A/C just to get a moderate amount of cooling, it’s not functioning optimally. If you don’t get as much of a cooling effect as the A/C should be providing, the unit will need some attention. Any unit that is more than 20 years old will probably have to be replaced anyway, because the life expectancy of such units is no more than 15 to 20 years.

Luckily, the units that are available these days are energy-efficient, which means they are better for the environment, and your bank account! After a couple of years, you can more than make up for the money spent in buying a new unit through the more affordable utility bills you’ll have to pay.

About the Author: John Storwick noticed that his air conditioner was showing signs of rust, and was making some odd rumbling noises. After having his unit inspected by a technician from AccuTemp Heating & Cooling, John had his unit replaced with an energy-efficient model that costs him a fraction in energy costs compared to his old A/C! If you need service from a trusted HVAC technician, visit http://www.accutempair.com/ today!

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