Seasonal Maintenance: Is your home’s air conditioning system ready to keep you cool this season?
April 10, 2022
Hopefully, you enjoyed a warm, toasty winter thanks to the heat from your HVAC system, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready to keep you cool for those warm spring and summer days ahead. Depending on your home’s resources, your air conditioning may have hibernated over the winter with a gas heat furnace, or your system may have continued to work strong over the winter with an electric heat pump. Therefore, it’s important to know exactly what type of HVAC unit(s) you own, along with the brand of unit(s) and what year the unit(s) were installed. Here are some energy-efficient ways to make sure your HVAC system is ready to keep things cool as things start to heat up.
Have a professional service the system before the season begins. Having your HVAC system serviced routinely can help extend its life and keep it running efficiently. Regular maintenance usually includes inspecting and cleaning the unit, servicing parts that might need it, and ensuring the freon charge is maintained at the manufacturer’s suggested level. Having too little or too much freon can impact the HVAC system’s performance, which can affect your monthly power bill.
Change air filters. One of the top ways to improve how well your HVAC performs and lower your cost at the same time is by installing a new filter. A clogged or dirty filter makes the unit have longer run times, costing you more money. Therefore, it’s recommended that you change the filters with a new one at least every three months. To know how long a filter has been in place, we suggest marking the new filter with the installation date.
Check the air handlers for possible leaks. Sealing leaks on the air handler is very important for maximizing your HVAC equipment’s performance because it helps to ensure maximum airflow to the ducts and circulation in the home. Please do not consider duct tape for this routine maintenance. Instead, we suggest mastic HVAC sealant tape as it is more durable.
Clear blockages from your condensate drain line. Every central air conditioner has a condensate drain line that runs from the indoor air handler to the outside of the home. Look for a white PVC pipe that’s located near your outdoor condensing unit. Verify that the condensate drain line isn’t clogged up. A clogged line can result in an overflow pan filling with water and possibly overflowing into your attic or crawl space, potentially causing extensive home damage.
Performing the proper seasonal maintenance and repairs can help protect against the risk of your HVAC unit breaking down and the risk of high energy bills. These easy tips can keep the cool air flowing and your family feeling comfortable, no matter how high the outside temperature is. In addition, these tips can lead to more energy efficiency and money savings throughout the rest of the year, and who doesn’t love that?