Spring Cleaning Your HVAC System

With freezing temperatures still in the forecast, it’s difficult to believe spring is almost upon us; but soon frozen flakes will melt into raindrops and make everything covered in white bloom into green. That seems to be our signal to start cleaning and decluttering everything we’ve accumulated in the past year; but the parts of our home which aren’t quite as visible are too often left out of the tidying process. One of the largest parts of our homes we often forget about is our HVAC systems, and because it’s controlling the air we breathe, it’s one of the most important parts as well. It’s just as important (if not more so) to make it a part of your spring cleaning ritual as emptying out your closets of unused items. Here are some steps to bring a little spring-time tidiness to your HVAC system:

1. Make sure you replace your filters. A dirty filter affects the air that flows through your home, causing you to breathe in particles that cause damage for people with allergies and asthma. Because it inhibits the flow of air, it also makes your system work harder than it needs to, leading to higher energy consumption and even failure of the air handler fan motor. Filters should typically be replaced every one to three months depending on the type of filter your system needs.
2. Clear the condensation drain in your A/C unit. It can usually be found on the base of the unit. The line that connects to this drains the condensation from your air handler and can often clog from build-up and algae; leaving it clogged can cause water damage to your home.
3. Have the coils cleaned. Like the condensation drain above, the coils in your HVAC unit have build-up that’s caused over time; and when it’s not properly cleaned, the system has to work that much harder to do its job which lowers the efficiency of the unit. Cleaning these coils, however, should be done by a trained HVAC specialist (which leaves more time for you to get back to cleaning out that garage).
4. See if your unit needs to be replaced. Spring is a great time to replace your system if it’s running inefficiently. Because the cold weather hasn’t broken yet, late winter/early spring is the prime time to purchase new units since they’re not in high demand yet (those high demand times are early to mid-summer when the warm weather strikes with a heat stroke knocking on your door and early winter when the cold air falls into those forgotten spaces in the home); HVAC companies are more likely to offer specials. To determine if the unit needs to be replaced, check the age, any unusual noises or smells, and your energy bills.

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Stack Heating, Cooling & Electric has been serving the greater Cleveland area since 1976. We value our customer relationships and look forward to working with you! Give us a call today to schedule your appointment with a professional local electrician or HVAC contractor.