Get HVAC Ready for Spring with Tips
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… winter is getting ready to leave and we are excitedly anticipating the arrival of spring and summer! While we can’t wait to get outside and feel the sun and warmth that spring and summer brings, it won’t be long before the complaints of “it’s too hot” begin and we are cranking the air up to find relief. Before those hot days hit, check out these tips to get your HVAC unit ready for spring.
Change Your Air Filter
While changing the filters in your HVAC unit is one of the best ways to save yourself some money and keep your unit running efficiently, it is also a task that is often neglected. Dirty filters force your system to work harder which results in higher energy bills. The extra strain on your unit can also costs you in expensive repairs and a shorter overall lifespan resulting in the expense of buying a new one.
If the cost savings wasn’t enough to convince you to change those filters, consider the air quality in your home. Air filters are designed to remove dust, molds, pollens, and other contaminates from circulating in the air in your home. If you leave a dirty filter in, it causes these to be forced back into circulation in your home. Changing filters at the proper time can help with allergies and potential illness. Extra filters are a great thing to keep on hand at your house because it is recommended that filters be changed once a month throughout the summer
Install a Programmable Thermostat
If you don’t currently have a programmable thermostat it makes a great addition to your spring HVAC maintenance list. Everyone wants the temperature to be comfortable in their home while they are at home, but you can waste a lot of energy by running your heating or cooling system when you aren’t home or awake.
With a programmable thermostat you can set your temperature adjustments for any hour of the day. Instead of running your air conditioner while you are at work during the summer you can program the temperature on your thermostat for a higher temperature during the day and set it to start cooling before you arrive home so you will not even notice the difference. The same thing works for while you are asleep, you can adjust the temperature when you sleeping and then have it adjust back to your comfort level before you climb out of bed.
Many of the newer thermostats also offer the convenience of automatically switching from heat to air conditioning depending on the conditions. This is comes in extremely handy on those surprisingly cold days in late spring and the extremely hot days that surprise us in the fall.
Thanks to modern day technology there are many programmable thermostats on the market that allow you to adjust the temperature in your home from your mobile device or computer while you are away. This grants incredible peace of mind when you are on vacation and realize you forgot to adjust your thermostat.
Check Your Ductwork
Ductwork is one of those crucial parts of an HVAC system that homeowners rarely think about unless there is a problem. Take the opportunity this spring to check over your ductwork to make sure that you are not losing precious pennies from leaks that could be repaired. EnergyStar has found that in a typical house 20% to 30% of the air that is moving through the ductwork ends up being lost through leaks and holes. Many homeowners repair leaks and holes that they find by wrapping them with metal tape and insulation. It is also important when looking over your ductwork to check to make sure that it has not come unattached at vents and registers. This is a common area to lose air from your ductwork. The more air that is lost through leaks, the more money you are wasting on your heating and cooling bills.
Check Your Outdoor Unit
It has been a long fall and winter and your outdoor air conditioner unit has been left to sit in the elements. It’s important to look over your unit before running it throughout the summer. A lot of dirt, leaves and debris are pulled in through the fan in the condenser coil and can cause an unwanted maintenance expense if not taken care of. It’s important to clean the condenser coil each spring.
Turn the unit on and watch and listen to see how it is running. Do you hear anything that sounds like it might not be running like normal? After it has been running for several minutes feel the pipe to see if it is cool. If it is hot then you have a potential problem that will need to be looked into before the hot summer hits and you’re thinking more about your swimming pool than fixing your unit.
Think About Upgrading
If you have an older HVAC unit it might be time to consider upgrading. Newer systems are more energy efficient, which is not only better for the environment, but keeps a little extra cash in your pocket. It’s also a good idea to replace the older units on your own timing instead of in the middle of a summer heat wave or below zero temperatures that winter brings when one of your units goes out.
Have Your HVAC Unit Serviced
Sometimes there is just no replacement for having your equipment serviced by a trusted and skilled technician. Heating and cooling units are a crucial part of your home and if you are unfamiliar with the system you might not want to start poking around. Making sure your HVAC spring maintenance is completed can be as simple as making a phone call to the professionals at Lloyd HVAC Services. Not only can they help you with your regular maintenance, but they can also make energy saving recommendations for your system as well.
Take advantage of this spring to stay on top of your HVAC maintenance to ensure comfortable temperature in your home all year long. Lloyd HVAC Services is a top-rated HVAC company in Toronto, contact us today to schedule am HVAC Tuneup that can save you money on your energy bills as well as keeping your system running for years to come.