5-Step Spring Maintenance Checklist for your AC System
Just as spring signals that it’s time to clean things up around the house, the return of warm weather indicates the need for a maintenance check of your air conditioning system. When you’re sweltering at 90-degree temperatures, routine maintenance can be the difference between broken equipment and smooth-sailing comfort.
Before you start running your AC full blast this summer, make sure your equipment is in optimal shape with this 5-step maintenance checklist:
1. Remove debris surrounding the unit. One step of maintenance you can do yourself is removing any leaves, weeds, or bushes that could be blocking the unit. Your HVAC system needs room to breathe! Always aim for 3 to 4 feet of clear space around your outdoor unit. With regular cleanings, you can ensure that your equipment has proper air flow.
2. Regularly replace filters. This is critical to the smooth operation of your unit! Delays in filter replacement could harm the performance of your equipment, leading to malfunctions or massive utility bills. Check your HVAC maintenance schedule to determine how often you should be replacing your filter. Some modern equipment requires monthly or quarterly filter replacements, but always double-check the needs of your specific equipment, as it might be different!
3. Check refrigerant levels. While there are some things you can take care of yourself, you should always call on a licensed HVAC contractor to do a proper inspection on specific functions of your unit. For example, if your refrigerant levels are too low, your unit could be experiencing a leak that requires immediate repair by a professional. Left unchecked, you might burn out your compressor and get blindsided with far more expensive repairs.
4. Check belts. Your AC unit has belts that connect the blower to the motor. When these wear out or crack, your AC will stop working. Before intense summer heat sets in, it’s a good idea to have the belts checked to ensure they’re in good operating order. Otherwise, you might find yourself waking up to a home that feels like the inside of an oven.
5. Have your components checked by a technician. Your AC is more complicated than it looks; that refreshing cool air that puts a smile on your face as you walk in the door is the result of many complex components working together. Thankfully, you can always count on an HVAC contractor to ensure that your electrical components, thermostat, condenser, and motor are all working properly.
