Warmer weather is right around the bend. When this turn of the seasons happens, you’ll be relying on your HVAC system to keep your facilities cool. Make sure it’s in the best shape for success.
When the Snow Melts, Give Your HVAC Units Extra Care
In just a few weeks, the Big Apple will see a trade in beanies and sweatshirts for shorts and Yankees’ caps. Wardrobe choices, however, aren’t the only thing that should change. Rising temperatures come with the need for a comfortable indoor climate. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done—especially when your AC isn’t ready.
By investing in HVAC seasonal maintenance, you improve your system’s efficiency so it can perform to its full potential come the summer months.
What to Include in Your Spring HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Simply put, proactive tune-ups are key to mitigating potential issues. If you’re looking to set your system up for success, here’s a tried-and-true spring HVAC maintenance checklist to get you ready for the changing weather.
1. Remove condenser covers.
If you’ve placed covers over your condensers for the winter, be sure to remove them before using your air conditioning. If you turn on your HVAC system with covers in place, you could severely damage your system .
2. Change your air filters.
Air filters capture particles in the air and prevent them from being redistributed into the area(s) you’re attempting to heat or cool. During springtime, you’re going to have more than just dust and dirt particles in the air—you’ll also have a slew of pollen.
Pollen in the springtime is a major problem for people with allergies, and unfortunately, that’s a large part of the population. If you don’t change your air filters when necessary, you could be putting people’s health at risk.
The other benefit to changing your air filters is that clean air filters will make your HVAC system run better. Clogged air filters prevent airflow, and that kind of blockage will cause your system to work harder in order to push more air through. When that air can’t get through, the system will become overworked and could end up breaking down.
3. Clean vents, ducts, and registers.
Dirty ducts can become a major problem if left unresolved for a long period of time. First of all, dirty air ducts will cause your air filters to become clogged much faster. If your ductwork becomes too clogged, the air won’t be able to freely pass through the ducts, which will cause your HVAC system to work even harder.
An important part of HVAC spring maintenance is having your ducts, vents, and registers cleaned. Hopefully this is something you do on a regular basis. If so, it won’t be such a big job. Either way, it’s important to get it done. This is something you can do yourself, but it’s better to hire a professional to clean your air ducts. Here’s how to tell if your air ducts need cleaning:
- Your vent covers are full of debris. Open one of your vent covers and look for debris and dust. If debris and dust are present, it’s time to clean your ducts.
- Your return air registers have dust build-up. If you have thick mats of dust around your registers, your ducts are dirty.
- You can see dust coming through your vents. If dust has gathered around your vents, it’s time to clean your ducts.
- Your air filter is blanketed with dust. The biggest sign to look for is an air filter with a thick layer of dust all the way across.
- There’s dust on your coil. A clogged system will collect dust on the coil.
4. Clean the outdoor components.
The outdoor components of your HVAC system need to be cleaned periodically. Before spring arrives, remove all the dirt and debris that have accumulated around your outdoor components. Trim back all trees, shrubs, and weeds so they don’t interfere with the system. Don’t forget to clean the outside coils, too.
5. Test your thermostat.
Your thermostat controls when and how long your HVAC system runs, so it’s important to make sure it’s working properly. Test your thermostat to see if it turns on and shuts off according to the program. If you want to make things easier, you can also install a smart thermostat to control all programming and temperature settings from your smartphone.
6. Turn on your HVAC system.
If you haven’t used your air conditioner all year, test it out to see if it’s working properly. Now is the perfect time to test your air conditioning so you have time to perform repairs if necessary.
With the air conditioning on, check the air flow every few hours to make sure the air feels cool. If it doesn’t feel cool, there could be an issue with your system, and you’ll want a professional to perform an inspection.
7. Schedule regular maintenance.
Getting regular maintenance performed on your HVAC system is critical to maintain its expected lifespan. It’s also the best way to reduce your energy bills by maintaining efficiency.
When you have a technician perform a spring maintenance inspection, they’ll look for signs of a problem and make repairs where necessary. If any components are faulty, they’ll replace those components. Regular maintenance is the key to preventing unexpected and disruptive breakdowns in the middle of spring and summer.
Time to Schedule Your HVAC Spring Maintenance?
Whether you need HVAC seasonal maintenance or you have an emergency, we can help. React Industries is one of the leading HVAC companies in NYC and takes pride in our ability to keep your systems fully operational.
We perform maintenance and repairs on existing systems, and we can even install a new system if you don’t yet have one. Even better, we can also install new HVAC components or retrofit a new system onto your existing infrastructure. Contact us today to learn more about how our services can help you prepare for the upcoming season.