With the summer season here, it’s important to ensure your HVAC system is ready to efficiently provide the cooling that you need. To do this, you will need to create an HVAC maintenance checklist, to make sure you get through all the maintenance tasks necessary. Preventative maintenance can save you a great deal of money, energy and time in the long run. We at Acree encourage you to check out our HVAC maintenance checklist in order to get your unit ready for the new season!
1. Did You Change Your Air Filter?
Changing your air filter is one of the easiest and most important steps you can take to ensure your HVAC unit is working properly. A clogged air filter causes issues like a frozen evaporator coil, bad indoor air quality and unnecessary use of energy. On the other hand, a clean air filter prevents these issues and reduces your AC’s consumption by 5 to 15%. So, before you start other HVAC maintenance tasks, make sure you check your air filter—if you notice it’s dirty, it’s time to change it! Ideally, you should be changing your air filter once or twice per month.
2. Did You Seal Up Your Home?
Air leaks can lead to a significant loss in energy and force your AC to run for longer periods of time. To ensure your AC is performing properly during the summer heat, it’s important you check your home for air leaks. The most common spots for air leaks are windows and doors—usually, the sealant and weatherstripping in these areas of your home is worn out, causing air leaks. To cover up these leaks, replace the weatherstripping with newer material from your nearest home improvement store!
3. Did You Clean Your Outdoor Unit?
Your outdoor condenser is an extremely important part of your HVAC system as it contains the condenser and compressor coils. That’s why you need to make sure that there is not vegetation getting near or inside your outdoor unit. To prevent foliage from getting to close to your unit, you will need to trim it and create a 2 ft. clearance around the condenser. If you notice your condenser’s exterior is dirty, remove any debris and dirt that you can and use coil cleaner and water to properly wash the exterior.
4. Did You Clean Your Vents?
Your vents and registers are where conditioned air comes into your home or where unconditioned air goes to your air handling unit. If your vent grilles are covered in dirt, they can most likely worsen your indoor air quality over time. To clean your vents and registers, use the brush attachment on your vacuum to remove any dust. Follow this up with a wipe from a damp cloth, to ensure no dust particles are left behind.
