As the daffodils fade and warmer weather approaches, now is the time to prepare your HVAC system for the transition. Spring cleaning isn’t just for decluttering and making your home sparkle – it’s also important for maintaining the efficiency and performance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 HVAC spring cleaning tips to ensure your system is ready to do its job: keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient throughout the spring and summer months.
From simple maintenance tasks to more comprehensive inspections, these tips will help you optimize your HVAC system’s performance, saving money, increasing comfort, and maximizing its lifespan. Let’s dive in and prepare your HVAC system for warmer months ahead!
1. Clean the outside of the AC unit
During the fall and winter months, debris like fallen leaves, dirt, and even small twigs can accumulate around the exterior of your AC unit. This buildup can hinder airflow and reduce the efficiency of your system.
First, take the time to inspect the surrounding landscaping and trim any bushes or plants that may have crept up to the unit over time. You’ll want to clear a radius of about 1-2 feet. By maintaining a clear space around your AC unit, you’ll promote better airflow, reduce the risk of overheating, and help prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Once any essential landscaping is complete, it’s time to clean the exterior unit. Remove any accumulated leaves and twigs by hand, then use a garden hose to wash away dirt and grime.
2. Clean the accessible parts inside the AC unit
After ensuring the AC unit is shut off or unplugged at the power source, clean the fins by gently vacuuming and wiping off any dirt. Then wipe the AC fan with a soft cloth, and lightly rinse off the unit with a hose.
You can also use this opportunity to check out as much of the unit as is visible to the naked eye, noting anything that looks damaged so that an HVAC professional can check it out during your routine tune-up.
3. Clean or replace the air filters
Here we go again about the air filters! But seriously, cleaning or replacing air filters is step number one for an efficient system and clean air. Clogged filters can even cause the system to break down due to a lack of airflow.
So, your AC air filter should be cleaned or replaced at least yearly for uninterrupted cooling and better air quality all summer long. Replace it more often, about every three months, if you have pets or have been doing a lot of dusty home improvement projects.
4. Clean the air vents throughout the house
Dust and debris can build up in the air vents throughout the winter, so cleaning them before you switch from heat to AC is a great way to make sure your HVAC unit isn’t working too hard and is circulating clean air.
Remove the vents’ grills, vacuum and wash the grills, and vacuum inside the wall vent as far as your hose attachment can reach.
5. Clean the AC coils
Just like all household items, your air conditioner’s indoor refrigerator coils collect dust over time. This is a problem, because dust makes the coils less efficient by limiting their ability to remove heat from your home.
So, tke some time to carefully clean the AC coils. You can search the internet for instructions, or let your HVAC professional take care of this tedious, but necessary chore.
6. Have the ducts cleaned
While this isn’t necessarily a yearly job (once every three to five years is sufficient), you might consider adding duct cleaning to your chore list to keep your HVAC system efficient and your air as clean as possible. If you live with someone with allergies or asthma, cleaning the ducts can help alleviate their symptoms.
7. Dust the house
Dust, pet dander, and other allergens can be nuisances all year long. However, spring brings allergens of its own, the most significant being pollen. Pollen will try to sneak into your home on shoes and through open windows and doors, worsening allergies for those affected.
Cleaning your home of dust where it has collected in corners, on ceiling fan fins, and in other hard-to-reach places is a good move to get ready for spring. The less dust around, the less gets trapped by your HVAC filters and coils, and the easier it is for your system to perform its best.
8. Get rid of excess clutter
Another crucial aspect of your spring cleaning routine, which directly impacts HVAC efficiency, involves decluttering your living spaces. Excessive furniture and clutter not only obstruct airflow but also contribute to dust accumulation throughout your home.
By removing unnecessary items you can improve airflow and enhance the overall performance of your HVAC system. Clearing out areas in front of or on top of air vents to ensure unimpeded airflow and increase the efficiency of your HVAC system.
9. Seal windows & clean window treatments
Re-sealing and vacuuming around your windows is beneficial not only for maintaining a clean living space, but for improving HVAC system efficiency as warmer weather approaches.
Re-sealing windows helps prevent air leaks, ensuring optimal insulation and minimizing energy loss, while vacuuming and/or washing your window treatments cuts down on dust build-up within your home. As a result, your HVAC system can operate more efficiently, providing better comfort and potentially reducing energy costs.
10. Have an HVAC professional clean & tune up all the rest
HVAC repairs or tune-ups are smart to schedule in the fall and spring. While you might do a great job of cleaning everything you have access to, there are some internal pieces and parts to your HVAC system you can’t reach.
Having a professional come to clean your system will leave you satisfied knowing your system is running as it should, and that it’s ready to cool your home as the warmer weather sets in.
Call Exxel For Professional AC Unit Cleaning and Maintenance!
If you’re like most of our customers, you just don’t have the time or energy for air conditioner cleaning and maintenance. Plus, certain essential tasks, like checking refrigerant pressure or examining inside the unit for worn-out components, are best left to the professionals.
That’s why Exxel Mechanical Services is here to help you check HVAC maintenance off your to-do list and get your AC unit ready for summer!
We serve a wide area of central Maryland from our home base in Mount Airy, including Frederick, Westminster, Owings Mills, and Ellicott City! If you’re located within our service area, get in touch today and discover how we can keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long.
Give us a call at (443) 821-1040 or send an email to bob@exxelmechanical.com. It would be our pleasure to see how we can help you!
