A hot summer day can be hard to handle even with the air conditioner running at full speed. However, if the HVAC system decides to rest during the middle of July the weather can be painful. This is why it's crucial to adhere to guidelines for an regular HVAC maintenance schedule to ensure your home stays cool as temperatures rise. Here's what a maintenance schedule should look like to keep your heating and cooling system operating just as it is supposed to.
Every Year
Renew Your Annual Service Plan
There is a temptation to cut back money and not pay for the annual service plan your heating and/or cooling company offers each year. But that can end up being a costly error. HVAC service plan customers are usually offered key perks like priority emergency service visits. These are pricey when scheduled on their own, but are typically included at a significant discount as part of the service plan. Many customers find that peace of mind worth the expense.
Schedule a Service Visit Before the Summer
As you might expect, HVAC technicians are highly sought-after during the summer months. This is why it's crucial to schedule your annual maintenance visit before you'll require the air conditioning frequently. This will not only allow for flexibility in time, but it also allows more time for spare parts that need to be ordered.
Even if you have an entirely new HVAC system, an annual maintenance visit guarantees that it will operate smoothly. For older HVAC systems, however an HVAC expert can detect warning signs of trouble early. They will make suggestions on which parts or repairs are needed to make sure the system runs more efficiently. Based on the service plan you have, repairs might be included. Even if not, this is likely cheaper than having to replace an entire system that has gone years without maintenance.
Here are a few common maintenance and troubleshooting tasks that an HVAC professional will complete on their visit:
- Examine refrigerant levels
- Clean ducts and the evaporator and condenser coils
- Repair or replace damaged or damaged ductwork
- Verify the thermostat
- Examine the drain pan
- Verify the condensate line, and flush the pan if necessary
- Examine the components, such as the motor and condenser fans.
- Check and repair or reconnect electrical connections and wiring
Monthly or As Needed
Although it is always recommended that you make an annual AC servicing appointment with an HVAC expert, there are some tasks that you can perform every month, or whenever you feel it is necessary, on your own to ensure things run smoothly.
Replace or Clean Filters
According to the United States Department of Energy replacing an old filter for an unclean one can cut down on the energy consumption of your HVAC by anywhere between five and fifteen percent. It's one of the most simple tasks that homeowners can complete to their HVAC system however, it is often overlooked.
During peak AC season, you should inspect your filter at least every two months. If it's a reusable filter, you can wash it out, but if it's an unreplaceable filter, you'll be required be able to change it. However, if it's an extremely hot time and you've got your AC on all the time, or you've got pets in the household that create dust from their fur, it's a good idea to check those filters once a month.
Clean AC Coils
The air conditioner is equipped with an evaporator coil on the inside, and a condenser coil located on its outside. Both like to suck up dust and dirt while they're working, but to ensure that your HVAC system can function efficiently, you have to keep everything tidy. A AC filter is supposed to help block so much of dust and dirt from getting through, but dirt and grime can end up entering the system.
Inspect Coil Fins
The condenser and evaporator coils have fins, usually made from aluminum, that can easily bend. When they bend, that means air can't get through, which is bad news for those trying to cool down your home. You could contact a technician for assistance or try to fix them with what is known as a fin comb--available at an AC wholesaler or hardware store that can arrange those fins and get them back to functioning order.
Clean Air Vents
As with the filters and coils your air conditioner's vents can also be clogged with dust and dirt. It's not as easy to breathe cool air as it's trying to make it into your space--and you'll be paying more in energy bills each month because your AC isn't working effectively. Based on how dirty the vents are, you might be able to wipe them down with a microfiber towel or utilize the attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean them spotless.
Clear the Area Around the Unit
As you would not allow anything to block your air conditioner vents inside, you should ensure that there isn't any obstruction to your HVAC system--particularly the condenser coil--on the exterior of your home. This is done by keeping the unit tidy by cleaning dirt, dead leaves, or other debris from your dryer vent. Dirt and grass kickback from lawn mowers is an additional risk to your HVAC's exterior unit, so make certain to inspect it frequently after any yard work is done.
Additional Maintenance for Individual AC Units
Air conditioners that are individually cooled, whether located on the wall or in the window, also benefit from many of the above-mentioned maintenance tasks in addition to the following:
Inspect the Seal
You should only be feeling cold air but not hot air that is coming from your AC. If your space isn't feeling like it's cool as it should be, make sure you check the seal around the unit. If there's a hole in the wall or window, you'll want to seal it, or call a professional to fix the air conditioning unit. Otherwise, you'll be forcing your AC to work double-time to cool the room. You might end up paying twice (or more) for cooling expenses too.
Clean and Store Window Units
If you own a window AC unit that you take out in the summer, it's important to wash the unit prior to placing it in storage for the winter. Remove and wash the filter with warm soapy water. After that, clean or vacuum the coils and vents or use a can or canister of air compressed to access the tight areas. You could also make use of a hose, not the pressure washer--to wash it after removing it from your window. Be sure to allow it to fully dry before storing it to keep out mildew.
Store It Properly
Always be sure to store an AC unit upright and not on its side, to avoid any harm caused to its compressor. If you don't have the original box the unit came in, wrap it in a tarp or other cover to shield the wiring and vents from damage caused by pests.
Although it's best to leave things like refrigerant or electrical problems the hands of an HVAC professional homeowners can guarantee the continual operation of their air conditioner with some light maintenance tasks performed at the time of the season or on an as needed basis.