Winter is over which means that spring is here around the corner in Vermont. Chances are you may have put some level of strain on your heating system during the winter months to keep warm. You don’t depend on your heating system in spring which makes it the perfect time to do HVAC maintenance to make sure your cooling system is running properly and efficiently for when summer hits.
Below is a spring HVAC checklist for Vermonters.
Change Your Air Filter
You should be changing your air filter on a regular basis in order to ensure the proper airflow throughout your home. If you don’t change your air filter regularly, dust and dirt will build up to the point where it will obstruct your airflow. This will make it harder for your HVAC system to cool or heat your home properly, affecting both your comfort and your energy bills. Check with Chuck’s to find out the proper frequency for your particular system.
Check Operation of All HVAC Units
Turn on all of your HVAC system’s units to make sure that they are working properly. If your HVAC system isn’t cooling or heating your home to the temperature you’ve set, then you have an issue with either your thermostat or your HVAC system and you’ll want to schedule professional maintenance.
You should also make sure that none of your HVAC units are making strange sounds or producing strange scents – these are all signs of potential problems and should never be skipped as part of your spring HVAC checklist.
Tighten Electrical Connections
Electrical connections that are faulty can make the operation of your HVAC system unsafe and can also end up reducing the lifespan of your HVAC’s major components. This should be a regular step in a spring HVAC checklist for Vermonters.
Clean & Lubricate Indoor HVAC Components
All of the HVAC system’s indoor components, including the blower fans and coils, should be cleaned and lubricated to ensure that they work as efficiently as possible. Cleaning and lubricating these components will also help to prevent any problems from developing in the near future.
Clean the Outdoor HVAC Units (Your Air Conditioner or Heat Pump!)
Clean out any leaves, grass or dirt that may be blocking your vents. If you don’t clean them out, it will restrict the airflow in your home, which will reduce your HVAC system’s efficiency.
Check Your Air Conditioner’s Refrigerant Levels
Because temperatures are going to begin going up as summer gets closer, you’re going to want to make sure that your air conditioner is in peak operating condition. Check the refrigerant levels to make sure that the unit will cool your home efficiently and effectively. Read more about checking your air conditioner’s refrigerant.
These maintenance tasks should be performed to make sure your HVAC system is performing properly after experiencing heavy use during the winter, and also to prepare it for the upcoming summer months.
While many of these tasks can be performed on your own, we recommend that you have a professional technician perform an HVAC inspection every spring.
Contact Chuck’s today to learn more about energy efficient alternatives, special financing, or to learn more about our HVAC maintenance services.