Spring has sprung, and before you know it, you’ll be cranking the air conditioning to escape Arizona’s heat. Summers in the southwest can get hot, with an average high of 106 in July. As you begin your spring cleaning, don’t forget to add HVAC maintenance to your to-do list. A few maintenance tasks now can boost your HVAC unit’s efficiency and ensure you and your family are cool and comfortable all summer long.
Change Your Air Filters
Ideally, you should change your HVAC filter every 90 days. However, some climates may require even more frequent changes, especially if you have allergens in your area. Either way, spring is a good time to swap out your filter. This puts you on schedule to replace it again mid-summer. We recommend having a few air filters on hand that fit your unit for easy, fast replacement. Otherwise, it may be tempting to put off this important task.
Clean the Outdoor Unit
Your HVAC unit can undergo a lot of wear and tear during the winter months. Fallen leaves, dirt, debris, and other contaminants can accumulate on your unit. Removing these items during your spring yard cleanup ensures unobstructed airflow and a more efficient unit. In fact, your spring cleaning maintenance checklist should include all things outdoors, including gutters and HVAC.
Schedule Your Maintenance Appointment
Many HVAC experts recommend scheduling a maintenance appointment every six months, and while this may seem like too much – you should avoid going longer than a year. In addition to tuning up your system for optimal efficiency, a maintenance appointment also allows you to learn about any necessary repairs you may need in the future.
This helps prevent an untimely breakdown that leaves you hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Spring is the perfect time to schedule your tune-up because it ensures your HVAC unit gets the maintenance it needs before the weather gets much hotter. Make sure you schedule your appointment as soon as possible, as HVAC companies get extremely busy this season.
Decide if This Is the Year to Replace
It’s easy to put off purchasing an HVAC unit, but doing so for too long could make it difficult to cool your home effectively or, in some cases, could leave you uncomfortably hot. HVAC units hardly ever break down on a convenient schedule. Waiting for a replacement appointment, securing funds, and delivery all take time. HVAC installation itself can also take time. In the meantime, you and your family are left with extreme heat and no air conditioning.
Spring is the best time to consider your timeline for replacing your HVAC unit. A few signs that may indicate a replacement is needed include higher utilities, uneven temperature in your home, or increasing repair costs. If you find that you’re calling out a repair person multiple times per year, it may be time to consider a replacement.
Inspect the Thermostat
Spring is also a good time to inspect the thermostat. If you haven’t yet, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat. Today’s programmable thermostats allow you to access your settings using your smartphone. You can also set up automatic schedules that adjust the settings based on a pre-set schedule.
For example, programming your thermostat to turn on before the sun gets too hot in the morning can help it keep up and more effectively cool your home. Programming the thermostat to drop a few degrees at night when everyone is in bed can save you a little money on your heating and cooling bills. Smart home features increase your home’s efficiency while giving you more control over its overall comfort.
The ability to tap into your home’s features also allows you to control them when away from home. You can adjust your home’s thermostat using your smartphone to ensure it’s comfortable before your arrival. You can also control your home when you are away on vacation.
Inspect Your Ductwork
The ductwork is the metal tubes that carry air conditioning or heat throughout the different rooms of your home. You can inspect your ductwork by turning on the AC and then checking any visible parts of your home with ductwork. Put your hand on the metal to search for leaking air. Air most commonly escapes through the duct joints.
You could also schedule a professional to inspect your home’s ductwork. That way, if any repairs are necessary, they can take care of them for you before summer. Repairing broken ductwork is also an excellent way to increase your HVAC’s efficiency, thus helping you save on utility bills.
Your home’s HVAC system is extremely important come summer. That’s why HVAC maintenance should be a part of your spring cleaning to-do list. Certain tasks, like changing your air filter and scheduling your preventative maintenance appointment, can ensure a comfortable home this summer.
