Steps for End-of-Summer HVAC Maintenance
The end of summer indicates a few things, including the conclusion of hot sunny days, kids going back to school, and an ideal time for your HVAC maintenance. After a hectic summer, a proper check-up on your unit enables you to identify potential issues and fix them in time. You can conveniently maintain your system to deliver efficient cooling and heating performances for immediate and future comforts.
End-of-Summer Maintenance Checklist
Whether you are an experienced or first-time air conditioning system user, knowing how to maintain your unit regularly is essential to maintaining lasting comfort and convenience. The following is a to-do list to help you through a system check-up.
1. Keep Your System Balanced
When using an HVAC system, you want it to stay level to work properly. You should ideally verify its placement every two to three months to ensure that it remains perfectly level. If you put your unit on pads, check the setup to ascertain that they have not moved.
2. Clean the Air Filter
Accumulated dirt and clogs in your air filter cause your HVAC unit to work harder to deliver the proper performance needed to keep your home in optimum conditions. This struggle draws more electricity leading to more energy consumption and higher utility bills. You can clean your filter by referring to the replacement and maintenance schedules in the system’s manual. Turn the unit’s power off and follow all the instructions given for your specific make for accurate cleaning.
3. Replace the Filter
During a routine professional check-up, the trained technician may find your air filter to be beyond a clean-up. The filter has collected a lot of debris and dust all summer long, and you can salvage the part in the aftermath. Following professional advice, remove all the waste and replace the air filter with a new component for reliable and efficient future performance. This replacement also helps improve your indoor air quality since you minimize the chance of blowing accumulated dust from the unit into your room. Generally, it is advisable to change your air filters every 30 to 90 days for sustained quality performance for years.
4. Vacuum the System
You can easily clean the system during your post-summer house cleaning. Dirt builds up around the air conditioner system and its parts, which you can effectively remove using a vacuum. When you vacuum the unit, vents, and ducts, it is easier for the device to pull air through the channels. You can save your electric draw with the resulting higher working efficiency. Additionally, this cleaning style lets you know if you have any leaks or holes that need repairing.
5. Inspect Ducts
You should carefully inspect the ducts for any condensation, leaks, or drips and quickly drain them. The wet conditions can create mildew that contributes to strange odors while simultaneously compromising the system’s performance in the long term. You also want to check the nozzles and tubing to prevent algae clogs in your unit. Notably, using bleach is a quality do-it-yourself hack you can utilize to clean your ducts, tubing, and nozzles. Mix one cup of water with the bleach and pour it down the air conditioning system’s condenser drain. This method conveniently removes any buildup in the pathways, making it a reliable and affordable homemade solution.
6. Lubricate Moving Components
Inspect the system’s moving components like fans and other bearings while applying lubricant where needed. The lubrication facilitates the smooth running of the parts and keeps at bay avoidable damage from friction and wear.
7. Check Refrigerant Lines
When using an HVAC unit, you want to check the refrigerant lines during your post-summer maintenance. These lines run from the system into your home, ensuring that you get the cooling or heating conditions you need. Inspecting them allows you to see if they are detached, worn, or have leaks that can compromise your desired indoor temperatures.
8. Check for Noises and Odors
The end of summer marks children’s return to school, leaving you with an empty and quiet house. This setting can make it easier to notice unusual noises from the air conditioner unit. Such sounds can signal a problem with the motor, allowing you to call for expert assistance to prevent expensive damage. You also want to check for abnormal odors that may indicate leakage and the need for timely repair.
9. Inspect Your Blades
It is advisable to check your air conditioner unit’s blades every couple of months. The conclusion of summer provides a quality time for the inspection. You want to look at the blades for wear and damage when they are stationary and in motion. Spotting issues in advance can help you get professional technicians to repair the components in time and prevent costly replacements.
10. Professionally Check Your Unit
Despite the check-ups, you still need regular assistance from a professional HVAC technician. An experienced mechanic will do a thorough check-up of your air conditioning system to identify any unfamiliar areas or errors you may miss. The technician can also provide tune-up or repair services immediately, ensuring you can have a properly working unit with all its components in order.
11. Clear Foliage
Keep the area around your outdoor unit clean by clearing foliage. You want to trim or remove the trees, bushes, and weeds that grow too close to the system. Removing the leaves and dirt allows you to increase your overall safety by eliminating fire hazard conditions. In addition, clearing the leaves means that you can keep ants and bugs away from the unit, which otherwise would get inside the system and create complications. An unobstructed environment also facilitates efficient airflow into the unit for a natural cooling effect and sustained performance. Maintain at least 2 feet of clearance near the air conditioning unit.
12. Switch to a Digital Thermostat
After the summer holidays, it may not be sensible to run the air throughout the day with an empty house. You can take this chance to change from a manual switch to a digital thermostat. A digital thermostat ensures you can comfortably adjust the settings according to your home needs, targeting occupied rooms. You can also modify the performance to match depending on the weather, allowing you to avoid energy wastage. Besides, a programmable thermostat is convenient since you can easily monitor your indoor conditions to create the ideal relaxing yet energy-efficient conditions.
Advantages of Regular Maintenance
Having regular maintenance on your air conditioning unit offers several benefits that enhance your comfort and convenience, including:
- Creates fewer repair problems
- Provides better indoor air quality
- Prevents random catastrophic malfunctions
- Delivers lower energy bills
- Extends the system’s lifespan
Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning in Seattle and Lynnwood, WA, provides skilled workmanship to keep your system smoothly running for years to come. You can enjoy different assistance from our experienced team, who carry out AC installation, AC repair, furnace repair, furnace installation, and routine maintenance tasks. Our company also carries reliable products such as boilers, gas water heaters, thermostats, and indoor air quality products. If you are searching for advice and analysis on enhancing your energy consumption, we offer free energy consultations. Contact us at Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning today to improve your home comfort.
