Glendale Heating & Air Conditioning | Serving Greater Seattle Since 1938

Hvac System

As the snow and ice start to melt, you relish in the idea of springtime. You can’t wait to experience warmer weather and spend more of your time outdoors. But with the higher temperatures comes a need to use your air conditioner and HVAC system more regularly.

Like most homeowners, you likely haven’t used your air conditioner since the end of last summer. Since your A/C hasn’t run in a few months, you’ll want to take a few steps to ensure the unit works smoothly and efficiently once spring weather hits.

In our blog below, we discuss six measures you can take to prepare your HVAC system for the spring. Use these tips to make sure your unit is in top shape before you turn it on for the first time this coming season.

  1. Replace the Air Filters

When the temperatures rise, you won’t have much of a need for your heater or furnace. However, you don’t want to leave your current, dirty filters inside. The dust on these filters can still find its way into your ducts and vents, especially if an unexpected springtime chill hits your area. Replace the air filters to make sure the heater works well if you need to use it during the spring.

Additionally, if your air conditioner uses air filters, you’ll want to replace those before you turn on the appliance. Dust may have built up and settled into the filters, or perhaps you forgot to change them before you turned the A/C off for the winter. Whatever the case, new filters ensure that cleaner air will work its way throughout your home.

  1. Inspect the Ducts and Insulation

Once you replace the filters in your unit, you’ll also want to inspect the duct sealing and the insulation in your home. If the ducts leak, your HVAC system will have to work harder to push air into each room in your home. And if you have faulty, damaged, worn, or old insulation, your home won’t effectively keep conditioned air indoors.

Rather than risk a high utility bill because your HVAC system is working overtime, contact an HVAC technician to take a look at the ducts and insulation in your home. These professionals can seal leaks and recommend new parts or insulation to make your home airtight and help you get the most out of your unit.

  1. Remove Covers From the Outdoor Unit

Before the cold hits, you likely covered your outdoor air conditioning unit with a blanket or tarp. You may have even strategically placed boards or rope around the unit to keep the cover tightly on top of it.

Before you turn on your air conditioner, make sure to remove any covers and straps from the outdoor unit. If you turned the off switch on the outdoor unit, you’ll want to turn it back on so you can effectively use your air conditioner when temperatures start to rise.

  1. Clean Around the Unit

When you take off the cover around your outdoor unit, you may notice piles of debris around it. Take some time to clean around the appliance to make sure that nothing prevents it from working properly after you turn it on.

Make sure to thoroughly pick up and remove piles of wood, grass, and other plant life to keep pests away from your air conditioner.

If you suspect that a pest found its way inside the unit, contact both an HVAC professional and a pest control specialist. The HVAC technician can open up the unit correctly and repair any pest-caused damage, while the pest control expert can look for and eradicate any pests that may have hibernated in your unit.

  1. Install a Programmable Thermostat

As previously mentioned, you relish the springtime weather. You love spending as much time as you can outdoors, especially after a long winter inside your home. But if you leave your HVAC unit running while you’re away from home, you use energy unnecessarily, and you’ll pay more for this extra usage.

To reduce your carbon footprint, lower your energy bill, and preserve the condition of your HVAC unit, ask your HVAC specialist or a local electrician to install a programmable thermostat. This device allows you to set a timer and a specific temperature for your home during certain times of the day. When the timer goes off, the unit automatically turns off or on, depending on your settings.

As springtime approaches, take the steps listed above to prepare your HVAC system for the warmer, wetter weather. If you need help with any of these preparations, contact your local HVAC professional. He or she can assist you and ensure your HVAC system works properly. Additionally, these technicians can perform regular maintenance to preserve the unit.

Want more tips and information on how an HVAC technician can keep your home comfortable no matter the weather? Read through the rest of our blog.

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