Put Your HVAC at the Top of Your Spring Cleaning List

With the change of the season comes spring cleaning! Cleaning your HVAC system may not be at the top of your list, but it brings with it some great benefits, including improved indoor air quality, increased home comfort, lower energy bills, and extending the life of your equipment. Contact your HVAC contractor for regular maintenance, including:

1. Change your system’s filter with a filter appropriate for your system. You may be tempted to perform this task yourself, but incompatible filters can restrict the airflow of your system, causing high-energy use and even permanent damage to your system. Talk to your HVAC professional about the right filter for your system.
2. Measure system airflow. Did you know the majority of HVAC systems do not deliver proper airflow? That means your home’s rooms aren’t getting the conditioned air needed to keep you comfortable. A well-qualified HVAC contractor will measure your system’s total airflow (at the unit) and can diagnose issues with restricted airflow.
3. Check for combustion safety. Oil, gas, and propane furnaces (or water heaters!), all create combustion gases. These gases often include carbon monoxide and other dangerous pollutants, particularly when there is an incomplete burn. Systems that lack proper exhaust can enter your home instead of exiting through the flue. A trained contractor can measure pollutants in the exhaust and ensure gases properly vent from your home.
4. Check the electrical systems and measure amp draw. Corrosion, age, and vibration can weaken or damage electrical connections, which should be maintained, cleaned, and tight. Qualified contractors can also measure the amp draw to identify excessive power consumption and proper functioning of the system’s auxiliary heating (when present).
5. Inspect the outdoor unit. Your contractor will conduct a professional inspection of the entire system and can perform any needed repairs before air conditioning becomes a true necessity in the hotter months.
6. Clean the outdoor and indoor units. To ensure proper airflow, your outdoor unit should be free from obstruction by leaves, shrubs, or other debris. The indoor unit’s coil (often contained in a dark and moist environment) can create indoor air quality problems or restrict proper airflow. Regular maintenance can identify small problems before they grow into something larger.
7. Check the ducts. Dirty ducts lead to poor indoor air quality, which can exacerbate suffering from allergies or asthma. Well-qualified contractors can diagnose the cause and recommend solutions for protecting your indoor air quality. Visit Pearl’s website to learn more about indoor air quality.
8. Purchase a maintenance plan with your HVAC contractor to service your system twice a year. Regular maintenance helps keep costs to a minimum by preventing significant deterioration.

One more tip to consider: Now’s the time! Don’t wait until summer hits and your system breaks down when you need it most. Still not convinced? HVAC contractors tend to offer more scheduling flexibility and sometimes even discounts in the spring before high demand overwhelms them on those hot summer days.

Login to Green Door to track your HVAC spring cleaning tasks in the Maintenance Tracker tab.