6 Ways to Get Your HVAC System Summer-Ready
After months of helping you beat back the winter chill, the HVAC system in your Charlotte, North Carolina home needs a little maintenance. Whether transitioning from a furnace to an air conditioner or switching your heat pump into cooling mode, you want to ensure that your equipment is ready to deliver the efficiency and performance you deserve. The following are six ways to get your HVAC system prepped for the hot weather that lies ahead.
1. Start By Changing Your HVAC Air Filters
Many central HVAC systems have two air intake vents and multiple return ducts. As such, you may need to change more than one air filter. If you’ve never changed your HVAC air filters, call us, and we’ll walk you through this process. This is also a great time to upgrade to air filters with higher maximum efficiency reporting value (MERV) ratings. As spring rolls in, local pollen counts will rise. With more foot traffic in and around your home and more outdoor debris being tracked, a filter that collects a broader range of particulates will help protect indoor air quality (IAQ).
2. Clean All Air Registers, Vents, and Grilles Throughout Your Home
Use a damp cloth, a feather duster, or your vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment to remove any build-ups of pet hair, lint, dirt, and other debris from your HVAC air registers, vents, and grilles. This will prevent these accumulations from being blown off by fast-moving air when your AC is on so that they aren’t circulated and re-circulated throughout the building. When cleaning these components, make sure that all vents are fully opened. Closing off HVAC air vents to direct heated or cooled air away from select rooms can increase the air pressure within your ductwork, place undue stress on your cooling equipment, and cause costly repair issues.
3. Schedule Duct Cleaning Service
Staying on top of HVAC air duct maintenance is important too. Residential HVAC air ducts should be professionally cleaned about once every three to five years. If you have anyone living in your home with a chronic respiratory illness, such as asthma, COPD, or allergies, you may want to schedule a duct cleaning more often. It’s best to have HVAC air ducts professionally cleaned about once every two to three years if you:
- Have multiple indoor pets
- Smoke indoors
- Live on or near a busy street or freeway
- Haven’t yet landscaped your yard
Any household or lifestyle factors that diminish your IAQ can also hurt the health and cleanliness of your HVAC air ducts.
4. Check Your Thermostat
Although most intelligent and programmable thermostats are expected to last about ten years, these devices should have their batteries changed annually. Check and change your thermostat’s battery as needed. You should also check and refresh this unit’s pre-programmed temperature settings to reflect the changing seasons. If you haven’t yet upgraded your thermostat to a smart or programmable option, you may want to take care of this too.
5. Make Sure That the Outside Condenser Is Free of Obstructions
Your heat pump or air conditioner condenser should have no less than 18 inches of clearance on all sides. Head outdoors and check this component for overgrown foliage, weeds, tree roots, and other nearby obstructions. Use a rake or broom to collect dried leaves, twigs, and other debris, and make sure that your AC condenser cover isn’t coated in excessive grime. This cover can be hosed off to remove accumulations of mud and dirt. However, checking and cleaning AC condensers is also something we do during our AC tune-up service.
6. Schedule AC Tune-up Service
The best time to have your air conditioner tuned up is before problems arise and the cooling season begins. Scheduling this service in late winter or early to mid-spring will help you beat the last-minute rush for an appointment. During these visits, we’ll thoroughly clean and inspect all aspects of your home’s cooling system and prime it for the oncoming warm weather. If your air conditioner has been around for a while, we’ll also assess its age and general condition, and we’ll give you an estimate of its remaining lifespan. This way, you can start budgeting and preparing for future AC replacement long before you need it.
Having your air conditioner serviced annually will help you remain compliant with the terms and conditions of both your manufacturer warranty and your home warranty. This is also one of the best ways to ensure consistent and efficient AC performance all summer.
We offer plumbing, air conditioning, indoor air quality, and heating services. We also provide wine cellars, heat pumps, and home energy audits. We proudly serve residents of Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. To schedule your annual AC tune-up, call All Temp Co., Inc Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical today!