Spring Cleaning To-Do List HVAC Unit

Spring is a season of renewal and with that comes a lot of cleaning; with so many tasks to handle it is not uncommon for people to overlook the maintenance of their HVAC units. This may have you wondering how you can keep your unit clean so it doesn’t let you down when you need it most.

• Have a technician perform an annual inspection
• Keep the exterior of the unit free of debris
• Regularly dust your home to reduce airborne debris
• Keeping your unit maintained will keep you at the right temperature whatever the season.

For more details and helpful information on how to keep your HVAC unit clean so it can perform optimally continue reading.

Why Maintaining Your HVAC is Important

Keeping your HVAC unit clean and well-maintained is not only beneficial to the operation and lifespan of the unit but can play a big part in the health of the people in your home. This unit controls all of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in your home.

When your HVAC unit is well maintained you can relax, knowing that it will work properly whatever the temperature may be outside. Regularly maintaining your unit can save you money in the long run because it will run more efficiently which will save on your energy bill. It also means there will be less chance of having to call an HVAC technician and pay a hefty repair tab.

Improve Your Health and Comfort with a Well-Maintained HVAC

If you keep your HVAC unit clean and well-maintained your sinuses and lungs will thank you. When an HVAC unit is not kept clean it can trap all sorts of debris and allergens that can reduce the quality of air in your home. This is especially important for those who suffer from allergies or other conditions that can affect a person’s breathing.

To learn how you can take charge and keep your HVAC unit clean and operating as it should continue to the next section.

Keeping Your HVAC Cleaned and In Tip-Top Condition Year-Round

Here we will discuss ways to prevent your HVAC from malfunctioning. Keeping a checklist where you see it can help you to remember these things so your unit will run as efficiently as possible, and everyone can be comfortable wherever there are in the house.

Annual Duct Cleaning and Inspection

It is always a good idea to have a professional HVAC technician inspect your unit annually. Having an experienced technician give your ducts a thorough cleaning and inspection can prevent your system from malfunctioning. A good cleaning will also ensure that your unit will be operating as efficiently as possible which as mentioned previously can save you some money in the long run.

Change Filter for Best Circulation

Changing your filter regularly is one of the most important things you can do as a part of your maintenance schedule. A general rule of thumb is to change your filter with the change of every season. In some cases, they may need to be changed more frequently depending on the area that you live in.

Having animals in the home adds to the dust and debris in the air, so if you are an animal lover you may need to add a few extra filters to your annual budget. A filter that is full of dust and other airborne debris will cause your HVAC unit to work harder thus becoming less efficient.

In addition to that, you will not have clean air circulating through your home, you will be breathing the same bacteria, dust, and other invisible debris floating in the air.

Helpful tip: Be sure to take a picture of your filter with your smartphone or at least write the filter number down before you go to the hardware store. There are many options for filters, and it can be confusing if you are not sure of the filter number.

Clean Vent Registers Regularly

Sometimes when you see something every day you almost become blind to it. This is very common with the intake and outtake registers that circulate the air through your home.

Sometimes cleaning the vent registers can be tedious but a good quality feather-feather duster or something equivalent can make the job less daunting.

Keeping them dust-free and clear of debris will ensure that your unit can properly circulate the air evenly through the home. It is recommended that you keep furniture, curtains, and other items from blocking the vents.

Keep Exterior Portion of Unit Free of Debris

For your HVAC unit to properly circulate the air throughout your home, it must be able to breathe. You must keep plants, weeds, and other debris away from the unit to allow for proper ventilation and circulation.

Keep the Air Circulating

Another way to help your HVAC work more efficiently is to utilize the ceiling fans in your home. Keeping your ceiling fans on low can help circulate the air evenly throughout the room so you don’t have some areas that are warmer or cooler than others. Be sure that you change the direction of your ceiling fan with the seasons to circulate the air in the right direction.

Keep the Dust Bunnies at Bay

However annoying and endless a task it may seem, keeping your home as dust-free as possible can make a big difference in how your HVAC performs. Make it a part of your weekly routine to do a thorough dusting to help reduce the number of debris being pulled through the system and back into your airways.

Test Your Unit

If you have not used your HVAC unit in a while professionals recommend that you give it a test run before heading off for the day. Be sure all of the vents are blowing correctly and that there are no weird noises or obvious coolant leaks. You also want to be sure that the wiring is good and you don’t smell any burning.

Side note: If you are using the heating portion of your HVAC and it has been sitting for a while there may be a slight burning smell initially from dust but generally once it is cleaned and had a chance to circulate the smell will dissipate quickly.

If you continue to smell a burning smell shut the unit off and double-check that there are no fires anywhere. If it is safe, call a technician to inspect your unit.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

A very simple way to help your HVAC unit run more efficiently is to install a programmable thermostat in your home. Keeping your home at the right temperature when you are home and switching to an energy-efficient mode when you are away.

Nowadays there are “smart” thermostats that can be controlled simply by touching your finger to the screen of your smart device.

Simple HVAC Maintenance Can Prevent an Uncomfortable Home

As you can see, it is not difficult to keep your HVAC unit well-maintained. Following the simple steps in this article can save you money and improve the air quality in your home which in return can help to improve your health. Breathe easy knowing that your HVAC is clean and ready to go.