Spring HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Ah!!! Spring has finally sprung. All of nature is coming to life around us. Trees are budding, flowers are blooming, and new life is everywhere. It is time for your Springtime HVAC Maintenance appointment.
Activity from nature is a good reminder there are plenty of tasks to complete in anticipation of the long cooling season. If the air conditioner is expected to work hard during warm weather, it needs some attention and care to ensure it functions properly. Here are some easy do-it-yourself HVAC Maintenance tasks to prepare your air conditioner for the summer heat.
1 Change the Thermostat Batteries
The thermostat is the switch for your air conditioner, sensing the indoor air temperature and calling for heating or cooling as necessary. While the whole system requires a great deal of electricity, the thermostat is powered by small batteries. These batteries need to be replaced annually; when these batteries fail, the system switch fails. Change the batteries early in the cooling season.
2 Change the Air Filter
The cooling function requires a tremendous amount of air movement, and all that air moves through an air filter. This ensures the air is clean as it enters the home, but the captured airborne pollutants eventually clog the air filter. The reduction in air movement interferes with air conditioning function, resulting in a warm house and stress on the system.
3 Clean the Evaporator Coil
Flip the AC circuit breaker off and open the evaporator chamber. With a soft plastic brush, brush away any dust that might have passed the air filter. The evaporator coil will be wet during the cooling season. The water that drops off the coil falls into a drain pan underneath. Clean any debris away to prevent it from clogging the drain line.
4 Investigate the Condenser Unit
The outdoor air conditioner unit is called the condenser. As stated earlier, the air conditioner function requires a tremendous amount of air movement and that includes air movement around this condenser. Make sure that the immediate surroundings of the condenser are clear from debris, overgrown grass or shrubs, and piles of leaves that might have been against the unit.
5 Clean the Condenser Coil
What appears to be solid walls of the condenser is actually a network of coils and fins designed to transfer heat from inside the house to the outside of the house. A large fan in the center of the unit pulls a lot of air across the coil . . . unless airborne particles get deposited into the coil/fin surface. Sticky pollen and dust collect, and even mown grass can be blown against or sucked into the network.
Pull the disconnect for the condenser unit and remove the covers from each side of the network. Use a garden hose to wash off the surface and clean the spaces between the coils. Replace the covers and re-insert the power disconnect.
Besides the do-it-yourself tasks, take time to schedule an HVAC Maintenance visit from your HVAC professional.
- Maintenance tasks test the refrigerant level to make sure a leak has not developed.
- The whole system functions due to a network of interacting electrical sensors, switches, and control mechanisms. Professional maintenance includes checking the strength of these electronics and knowing that a failing switch can cause a cascade effect.
- Simple tests will ensure the system is cooling and functioning properly.
Need Help with HVAC Maintenance?
If you preparing for summertime heat, don’t hesitate to contact All Star A/C & Heating Services via our contact form or call 832-756-2801 to speak with a member of our team today about scheduling your next HVAC maintenance appointment.
