As winter draws to a close, you’ll soon be transitioning from heating your home to cooling it. Before you make that transition, it’s important to have your HVAC system maintained. Doing so will ensure that everything is functioning properly so that there aren’t any hiccups.
By performing end of winter maintenance, you can keep your home comfortable when the heat sets in, avoid major headaches, and save yourself some serious cash, too.
Clean the Ducts
During the winter, it’s important to have the ducts closed off to prevent cold air from rushing into your home. However, when they’re closed, dirt and debris can get trapped throughout the ductwork, which can minimize the efficiency of the system and could potentially cause serious damage.
Plus, that debris can spark an uptick in respiratory issues, particularly for anyone who suffers from asthma or allergies. By having your ducts cleaned, your HVAC system will perform better, you’ll reduce the risk of damage, and you’ll be able to breathe a lot more freely.
Check the Air Filter
Take the time to check your air filter. If it’s dirty, you’re going to want to change it. This simple maintenance task will also improve the performance of your HVAC system not to mention the fact that it will allow for better indoor air quality.
The reason? The air filter traps dust, pollen, and other particles, and there tends to be more of those particles during the spring and summer seasons. If the filter is dirty before spring arrives, its efficiency will be minimized, which means you’ll be breathing in dirty air and your entire HVAC system could be compromised, so make sure you change it. It’s always a wise idea to start the spring off with clean air filters.
Inspect the Registers
Take the time to assess all supply and return registers. Make sure that they are open and that they aren’t being blocked. If they’re closed up or obstructed, the system won’t be able to perform at full capacity.
Make sure the registers are opened and remove any items that may be situated in front of them. It’s also a good idea to clean the registers out as doing so will allow the cooled air to flow through with ease.
Turn Off the Furnace
If your furnace is run by a pilot light, turn it off and shut the gas valve at the end of the heating season. Keeping it running can increase the risk of dangerous gas leak and can also corrode the internal components of the combustion chamber. Turning it off will also reduce your fuel consumption, as you won’t be using an unnecessary gas, which will help to lower your utility bills.
Schedule Professional Maintenance Service
Lastly, you should make an appointment to have your system serviced by a licensed and experienced HVAC professional. He or she will assess the entire system, make sure that everything is working properly, and clean the components.
If any issues are spotted, they can be corrected so that your HVAC system is running safely and effectively all summer long.
