Sunny Windows, Shady Trees and Other Non-Electrical Supports to HVAC

Spring will be here before you know it. If you travel during the winter, it's almost time to head back home. Once you return, you'll have some maintenance issues to take care of before you can get your home up-and-running again. Part of that maintenance will include your HVAC system. You might have shut your heater down for the winter, but your air conditioner will need to be prepared for the warm weather. Here are three steps you should take to get your HVAC system ready for warm weather.

Clean the Vents

As soon as you get home, you should clean the vents. Even if you haven't been using your HVAC system during the winter, you could still have a buildup of dirt and dust in the vents. Not only that, you could also have pest droppings in there. Remove the vent covers and use a vacuum to reach as far into the vents as you can. You should also open the filter compartment and clean inside there, as well.

While you have the filter compartment open for cleaning, toss out the old filter and replace it with a new one. It's important to note that if you see a significant amount of dirt or debris while you're cleaning your vents, you should schedule a professional cleaning. This will ensure that your vents and ducts are clean and ready for spring.

Remove the Debris

While you were away for the winter, grass and weeds could have grown around your exterior air conditioning unit. Unfortunately, that overgrowth can interfere with proper airflow, which can make your air conditioner run less efficiently. Before you turn your air conditioner on, be sure to remove all the debris. This is also a good time to wash the coils and fan blades in your air conditioning unit. Attach a high-pressure nozzle to your garden hose and wash the coils and fan blades.

Give It a Test Run

The last thing you want is to have your air conditioner break down in the middle of a heat wave. You can avoid that by giving your unit a test run before the warm weather arrives. Once you've taken care of the cleaning, turn your air conditioner on and allow it to go through one full cooling cycle. If you notice any problems, schedule an appointment with your HVAC technician. This will allow them to take care of problems before you're faced with emergency repairs.

Now that you're getting your home up-and-running, use the tips provided here to get your HVAC system ready for use.