With the weather getting warmer, it is important to prepare your residential HVAC system for the warm months that lay ahead of us. There are a few things you can do as a homeowner to properly prepare your HVAC units in order for them to n function at their highest capacity. Your Chillicothe Heating & Cooling family is here to assist you and make your spring preparations a tad easier.
Have You Removed the Outdoor AC Cover & Cleaned the Area around the Outdoor Unit?
It sounds like such a simple step, but if you keep a protective cover on your outdoor unit during the wintertime, be sure to remove it before turning on your cooling system. The next thing you want to do is check the outdoor unit area. It needs to be free of any plant overgrowth, obstructions, or loose debris. When the cooling system is turned on, it sucks in the air around it, so it would be detrimental if anything loose in the vicinity could be sucked in and stuck in the fan blades.
Did You Inspect the Exposed Ductwork?
If you have any exposed ductwork in your home (usually in the basement), it would be good to check and make sure there are no spots with tears or holes. In the case you do find any, it is crucial they get adequately sealed. Ductwork with holes will not distribute air throughout your home as efficiently as it should.
Did You Check the Drainage Hole?
Typically, air conditioning units have a drainage hole located somewhere near the base of the system. This hole is there to redirect any condensation away from the unit. However, it is common in the winter when the unit is not used for the drainage hole to catch dust particles and other contaminants. For this reason, it is quite important that before you start endlessly using your air conditioner this season, check and clean it out if necessary. Otherwise, dealing with a backed-up and clogged drainage hole is no fun!
Did You Swap Out Your Air Filters?
Pollen and allergens are notorious irritants this time of the year. Because of this, we want to stress how important it is for homeowners to keep their air filters changed. Generally, air filters should be swapped out every 30-60 days. But because pollen is so prominent during the spring, it wouldn’t be bad to double-check the air filter even if you suspect they aren’t full yet.
Do You Leave Your Doors & Windows Open Often?
It can be tempting to leave your doors and windows open often. Keep in mind that doing this will allow more pollen and allergens inside your house. So if you have anybody in your household who deals with allergies or asthma, doing this may cause a lot of discomfort for them. In addition, allowing too much warm air inside the house can stress your HVAC system out by placing more pressure on the system to blow out cool air.
Have You Made an Appointment for Your Spring Tune-up & Safety Check?
The best time to have your HVAC unit serviced is before the weather gets too hot. If you wait too long to get your spring maintenance done and something that needs to be checked or fixed beforehand, it can cause even more issues for your unit. In addition, keeping up with the maintenance checks on your HVAC system every season keeps your manufacturer’s warranty active. So if you haven’t yet scheduled your appointment, call us today, and we will get you booked for our soonest available appointment.
Call Chillicothe Heating & Cooling for any of your HVAC needs. Whether you need to schedule your spring maintenance check or have an issue with your current HVAC system, we are here to assist you and provide you with exceptional customer service! Call us today at (740) 281-2186, or click here to schedule an appointment now!