Get Your Residential HVAC Ready for April Showers and May Flowers.
Spring has sprung and there’s plenty to do to get your home and your residential heating and cooling systems ready for the new season.
Down South, spring truly means heating and cooling! Many homeowners find themselves heading to the thermostat for a blast of heat in the morning and then trotting over again in the afternoon for some cool, air conditioned relief. Let’s start with a few tips to get the most out of your home’s heating and cooling systems this spring.
Change Your Furnace Air Filter
You should make a habit of checking your air filter every month and replacing it every 4-8 weeks, depending on how much your furnace or air conditioning systems have been running. While the selection of residential furnace filters is pretty mind boggling, what’s most important is that you keep your filter clean.
Not only does a clean filter mean a longer, easier life for your furnace, but it also helps you breathe easier. If severe allergies are an issue in your household, make a point of replacing your filter frequently. While you may be tempted by the super-dense, anti-allergen furnace filters, these filters may be an additional strain on your system. Save money and reduce wear and tear on your system by using a good quality, traditional filters or a filter with a moderate MERV rating. Whatever you do, be sure to replace them frequently.
Tighten Electrical Connections
If you’re a savvy DIY homeowner, then you can handle basic heating and cooling maintenance on your own. You probably have also learned that Tennessee’s winds can shake wires loose where you least expect. Make sure all your connections are clean and tight. Loose or faulty electrical conditions are not only unsafe, but they may damage your heating and air conditioning units.
Clean and Lubricate Your Home HVAC Unit
After a winter spent hibernating in the warmth of your home, you may be surprised to see what Mother Nature blew in. Take a moment to inspect your unit’s components — both indoors and outdoors — for mouse nests, shrubbery, and other debris. Then, make sure your system’s blower fans and coils are cleaned and lubricated.
Check your Air Conditioner’s Refrigerant Levels
While it’s spring today, it may feel like summer tomorrow! If your unit was built prior to 2010, it probably uses R-22 refrigerant. Be sure to check refrigerant levels in your unit before the dog days of summer strike. If you’re unsure of how to do this yourself, call in a heating and cooling professional for an annual inspection and tune-up.
Check Your AC Before You Need Air Conditioning
If you’re they type who waits for a string of 90 degree days before hitting the AC, then this tip is for you! There’s nothing worse than air conditioning that does work when you need it the most. On a warm and sunny spring afternoon, hit the AC for a cycle or two to make sure all systems are a go. Note: running your air conditioner in the winter can seriously damage your unit. Don’t do it!
If you’ve done all the do-it-yourself maintenance you can and your AC still isn’t cooling your home to the temperature that you’ve selected, something smells a little hot, or your system isn’t blowing enough air, you likely have an issue with your thermostat or the central air conditioning unit itself. If this is the case, it’s time to call in the residential HVAC experts.
To schedule a spring HVAC cleaning and tune-up for your home, contact Parthenon Plumbing & HVAC today.
