Congratulations, Utah homeowner: You’ve made it through the winter! This one was a heavy, wet cold season, one that surely placed a great deal of strain on your home’s plumbing and HVAC components – and now that spring is here, it’s time to assess where things stand headed into a big season change.
At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we can offer you a wide range of air conditioner and overall HVAC maintenance as your transition your home from the cooler season to the warmer one. Here are several areas many handy homeowners like to take care of themselves when it comes to spring AC and HVAC maintenance.
Filter Replacement
For starters, spring should represent a continuation of a major theme from every other season of the year: Changing HVAC filters. This should be done around once a month or so, depending on your precise filter type and a few other air quality factors, and this is the case throughout the year. If you have pets or poor air quality in your home, you may have to change your filters even more often than this.
Failure to replace filters properly has a few negative results. For one, your air quality will be notably poor, even awful if you let it go long enough. For another, a clogged filter will force the rest of the HVAC system to work harder on a daily basis, raising your monthly bills and wearing down various components faster.
Floor Registers
One of the simplest HVAC risk areas that may form over a long period without service, such as winter, is dirt, debris and hair of various types building up and making their way into your floor registers. The best way to prevent this sort of thing throughout the year is by regularly vacuuming and sweeping major areas, especially near registers.
It’s always good, however, to add a deep spring clean to your list. Remove each vent from the floor and clean it with soap and a strong brush or sponge, getting rid of both dirt and any rust present. Before reinstalling the registers, allow them to dry completely.
Air Vent Grill
You should also locate your return air vent grill in your HVAC system, and clean it thoroughly during spring. You can use either a vacuum or hose here, plus a rag or even a knife to get in between the grill spaces and remove and additional grime or debris.
AC Unit Cleaning
Finally, make sure you address the actual AC unit, which can be prone to significant buildups of debris and even random household items during the winter. Check for any such blockages that might impact the air condenser’s ability to properly pump air in and out, and remove yard waste that could interfere here. If any plants or shrubs have grown out to the point that they impact the condenser unit, trim these back or remove them.
For more on basic spring HVAC preparation tips, or to learn about any of our plumbing, heating or air services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.