As the cold winter weather starts to fade into the past and the nice spring weather starts to shine through, it’s likely that you’re getting your home ready for the upcoming summer months. One aspect that you can’t forget about is your cooling system. There are a few different things that you’ll need to do in order to prepare your cooling system for its summertime run.
Get Professional Maintenance Service
One of the most crucial things you’ll need to do to prepare your cooling system this spring is to schedule professional maintenance. Yearly maintenance is typically a requirement to retain the warranty coverage for your system. It also helps to ensure that your system remains in tip-top condition. You can extend the lifespan of your air conditioner with routine maintenance. Spotting problems early on helps you avoid unexpected disasters.
Change Your Air Filter
Your HVAC system has a filter that is responsible for removing unwanted pollutants and particulates from your indoor air. You’ll need to replace this filter in the springtime to ensure that the quality of the air inside your home remains at a healthy level. A clogged air filter can put a lot of wear and tear on your HVAC system and air conditioner, leading to more frequent repairs. There are many different filter options on the market today. Most homeowners fall into the category of purchasing pleated or HEPA air filters.
Clean Up Your Outdoor Unit
After the long winter season, it’s likely that there’s debris pushed up against your outdoor air conditioning unit. You’ll want to remove this debris and ensure that there are no low-hanging trees or shrubs within three feet of your outdoor unit. This helps to allow for adequate ventilation of your outdoor AC unit so that it can function efficiently. When your system is functioning at its peak performance level, it ensures that you’re not wasting money on your summertime cooling bills.
Clean and Open Up Your Vents
Next on your list should be to prep your indoor vents and registers. Make sure that they’re all clear of objects and have at least three feet of open space around them. If you can remove your vent covers, do so and give them a good wash. It’s not uncommon for airborne particles to get stuck on the vent grates and need to be removed. Make sure that your vents are completely dry before you reinstall them. Otherwise, they could promote mold growth. This process is a great way to improve your indoor air quality and reduce allergy symptoms.
Consider Duct Cleaning and Sealing
If it has been over three years since your last duct cleaning and sealing service, it’s time to consider getting on our schedule. Having your ducts cleaned will help to remove unwanted airborne particles. This includes dander, dust, pollen, and even mold spores. These particles can build up inside your ducting and reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system. Sealing your ducts will help to eliminate any leaks that could be allowing your cold air to escape into the wall cavities.
Test It
No springtime air conditioning maintenance checklist is complete without giving your system a good test. You want to switch it over from heating mode to cooling mode, setting the temperature to about 5 degrees colder than it currently is in your home. Make sure that your cooling system kicks on and is adequately producing cold air. It is important to note that you may have a slight musty smell coming from your cooling system the first time you run it in the spring. This is completely normal and should go away after the first half hour of running your system.
Program Your Summertime Settings
To ensure that you’re optimizing your energy savings throughout the summer months, it’s very helpful to have a programmable or smart thermostat. This will allow you to program different temperatures for different times of the day. You can set the temperature to be warmer when no one’s going to be at home so that you’re not wasting money unnecessarily cooling your home. You can set your thermostat to drop to a lower temperature just before your family is going to arrive home.
Expert AC Services
Coffman & Company offers expert AC services for the entire Denver, CO and surrounding areas. We can also help with all of your heating, gas piping, plumbing, and indoor air quality needs. Simply call our office today to schedule your next service appointment with one of our highly knowledgeable cooling technicians.
