For many homeowners, spring cleaning is a tradition. It’s an opportunity to clean your home for springtime after a long period of cold weather and being cooped up. This is the right time to perform a deep clean and to throw out or donate any items you don’t need. It’s also a great chance to think about your home’s cooling system and indoor air quality. Spring is allergy season after all, and the hot days of summer aren’t too far away.
Schedule an AC Tune-Up
Spring is the perfect time to schedule seasonal maintenance for your HVAC system. If you have an active HVAC warranty, seasonal maintenance is likely required to maintain the warranty. A routine checkup also ensures that an HVAC technician is the first person to turn your air conditioning system on each year.
During this appointment, your technician will perform a multipoint inspection and clean the equipment as they go. That helps improve not only energy efficiency but indoor air quality. The technician will identify any potential issues and correct minor wear and tear. This can include lubricating moving parts, tightening electrical connections, and replacing worn belts. The technician will then calibrate the thermostat, start the system, and check static air pressure.
Clean the Evaporator Coil
A technician does a lot during a spring tune-up, but one of the more important tasks is cleaning the evaporator coil. Typically, the coil is positioned above the blower and behind a door or panel. The technician will use a soft brush all along the exterior to remove any dust and grime. The next step is to spray the exterior with a coil cleaner. The cleaner will drip from the coils into the drip pan. Your technician will ensure the unit is draining properly and then clean the drip pan.
Clean the Condensate Drain Line
During normal operation, the evaporator coils will cause condensation. That moisture will drip from the coils into the drip pan. The drip pan has a wet switch to avoid flooding. Your technician will check the switch to ensure proper operation. As the pan fills, water runs into a drain line and exits the home. The technician will clean the line of debris and ensure that the pan and line are draining appropriately.
Have a Pro Clean Your Ducts
You don’t have to schedule duct cleaning every year. But you should do so regularly, and early spring is the best time to do it. The industry recommendation is rather broad at every two to five years. How often you should schedule depends on the size of your home and the resident and pet count. If you can’t remember the last time you scheduled, book the appointment this spring. In two years, you can schedule again, and your tech can then give you a much better idea of how often you should schedule.
Dust accumulation in your ducts is inevitable. Cleaning your ducts protects your HVAC equipment and helps to ensure optimal airflow. It also improves indoor air quality. Dirty ducts can introduce odors to your home in addition to many pollutants and contaminants.
Swap Out Your HVAC and Air Filters
You should swap out your HVAC filter every one to three months. Frequency depends on the quality of the filter and the amount of dust in the home. Rather than follow a set rule, check them each month. Swap them out when visibly dirty. Spring is usually a good time due to heightened dust accumulation in winter.
If you use any type of air purifier in your home, this is also a great time to check the media. Media includes HEPA filters but also prefilters, activated carbon filters, and UV lamps. If you have a whole-house air cleaner, have your technician service it during the AC tune-up.
Dust Return Vents
We also recommend checking your return vents whenever you check your HVAC filters. The return vents provide cooled and heated air to the living spaces. Dust each grille with a microfiber duster while they’re both opened and closed. Ensure that they remain open. Unlatch each grille, and dust the grille backside and up into the mouth of the duct.
Disable Furnace Humidifier Water Supply
Many homes have a furnace humidifier to help avoid dry air during winter. If yours does and features a bypass duct, close it. Often, you do so by switching it to “summer mode.” It is also recommended that you disable the water supply. This is often as easy as moving a dial to the summer setting. Otherwise, locate the copper or plastic line that provides water to the humidifier and turn off its water supply valve.
Clean Around the Outdoor Unit
If you have a split HVAC system, then you have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit needs some attention, too, including periodic checks of the fins and bending any misshapen fins back into position. You should also clear leaves and other debris from inside the unit and from around it. The industry recommendation is to maintain at least 2 feet of clearance around the unit. That includes grass and overhanging branches.
Remove the Cover
If you have a cover that impedes airflow from the unit, remove it before using the system. Note that this is generally not recommended in cases where you also use the unit to provide heat as well. If you want a cover due to overhanging branches, opt for a raised cover that does not impede airflow.
Clean Your Humidifier
Humidifiers are a great option in spring and summer to increase comfort and lower costs, but they must be kept clean. A dirty humidifier can result in biological growth and thus indoor air pollution. If you have a whole-home system, have it serviced and cleaned during your tune-up. For portable units, swap out the filter, and clean the inside with a mixture of hot water and vinegar.
Additional Steps
The EPA recommends scheduling an IAQ test every two years due to radon. You should schedule an energy audit every several years or so. Clean your gutters. Clogged gutters lead to mold spores that do get in the home. If you do not have a whole-house humidifier, this is a great time to consider it. Humidifiers tend to lower long-term cooling costs. Another way to save is to invest in a programmable or smart thermostat. Temperature automatically adjusting while you’re at work can save you as much as 10% on cooling.
Seasonal HVAC Tune-Ups in Oklahoma City
If the time has come for your spring tune-up, True Climate Heat + Air is here to help. We’ve provided HVAC maintenance services in the Oklahoma City Metro Area for over 30 years. Our technicians also perform heating and cooling and repairs. We have air quality experts on staff who install air scrubbers. True Climate Heat + Air also has expert plumbers who clean drains and install water heaters, water softeners, garbage disposals, and fixtures. Call today to schedule an appointment or with any additional questions about the products and services we offer.
