Spring Maintenance Tips for Your Air Conditioning System

During the winter it’s easy to forget about your central air conditioning system. In fact, most people don’t even consider it until the first sweltering day of the year. However, if you aren’t properly maintaining your air conditioning system during the off-season, then it might not even turn on when you need it to. Air conditioning systems must be regularly cleaned and maintained for optimal use. During the spring, before the first heatwave of summer, is the best time to tend to your air conditioning unit.

Central air conditioning systems are designed to cool an entire home. They are typically connected to the home’s heating system and share the same ductwork. The central air conditioning unit is comprised of a condenser unit and evaporator coils. The condenser unit pulls in hot air from outside of the home and delivers it to the evaporator coils, which cool the air and release it into each room through a fan coil and ducting system.

Although most HVAC maintenance and repairs need to be performed by a professional, there are some maintenance tasks that homeowners should perform on their central air conditioning systems periodically, especially before summer. Spring cleaning for HVAC systems includes:

• Changing the air filters
• Inspecting the evaporator coils and condenser

Be sure to shut off the power to your HVAC system before attempting to inspect and clean it.

Air filters should be changed every three months or sooner. This will drastically reduce the number of allergens inside your home during the summer. The evaporator coils and condenser should be cleaned periodically throughout the year. Sometimes the evaporator coils are protected with a sealed sheet metal plenum. This should only be removed by a trained professional.

Air conditioning systems sometimes develop issues over the winter. Frost build-up on the coils or ice in the ductwork can cause severe problems to an HVAC system. Although you can investigate to find these problems, it is best to have a professional HVAC service properly diagnose and fix any problems that might have occurred over the winter.

Sometimes the outdoor condenser unit will become obstructed by debris during the winter and spring. This can cause the air conditioning system from properly cooling your home. It’s important to prevent rotting leaves and branches from building up around the outside unit as this can lead to rust. Bushes and shrubs should also be trimmed back about three feet from the unit.

A little maintenance in the spring can go a long way in keeping you cool and comfortable during the summer. For information on how Blanton’s Heating and Air can help you maintain and repair your HVAC system this spring, please contact them today.