Getting Your AC Ready for Spring

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, household heating and cooling expenses are two of Americans' greatest personal expenses. Even if your home is enjoying lower utility costs after winter’s end, it won’t be long before the heat of summer starts to take its toll on our electric bills. When you’re running your air conditioner day and night, the expense can add up fast.

Getting your air conditioning unit ready for spring early can help to reduce your energy costs and protect your family from unexpected air conditioning repair costs. In this post from General Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re breaking down the steps you should take before turning on your air conditioner full-time. Give us a call to schedule a professional HVAC inspection today!

HVAC Maintenance and Your Home

If your HVAC system seems to be functioning well during the winter months, it can be easy to overlook the important chore of checking your AC unit before spring and summer. Follow these steps to make sure your air conditioner is ready:

1. Remove Debris and Dirt

During the winter months, most of us don’t put a lot of thought into lawn maintenance. As fall and winter progress, fallen branches and leaves can end up covering your AC unit. All of that debris can interfere with your air conditioner’s functionality, forcing your system to work extra hard and wearing down the equipment.

Additionally, debris in your air conditioner can make an inviting home for small animals looking to nest. To prevent these problems, clear away any large debris in your unit. Next, vacuum the fins to remove smaller debris.

2. Change Your Air Filter

Your AC system will run much better if you change its filter regularly. The air filter is a repository for every particle that comes into your home. These particles can include dust, pathogens, mold spores, and allergens, all of which can impact your family’s health. A dirty air filter allows these particles to pass through your AC system, circulating them through the air in your home.

Regularly changing your air filter ensures the air in your home is fresher and cleaner. But that’s not the only benefit. A dirty filter will also force your AC unit to work much harder than it’s meant to, causing additional wear and tear on your system and creating a drag on its efficiency.

All of this adds up to parts that wear out faster, a shortened overall lifespan, higher monthly energy costs, and a more significant negative impact on the environment. That’s why simply taking the time to change out your filter is one of the best things you can do for your AC unit and your family.

After changing your filter, be sure to schedule air filter replacement in your calendar every 90 days, so you’re always ahead of the game. If your family members suffer from health conditions like asthma and allergies, you should shorten the time between filter changes to every month to 45 days.

3. Test Things Out

It’s always a fun feeling when you fire up the AC unit for the first time in the season, heralding the coming of warmer, pleasant weather. But it’s a good idea to check out the condition of your AC unit before you need it to cool your home.

First, you’ll need to clean the outdoor AC unit to perform a test run. Next, turn on your system for about 30 minutes to an hour and evaluate how well it performs inside your home before listening to it on your lawn. Does everything sound as it should? Do you have any obvious concerns about your unit’s performance?

Be sure to take notes and discuss any potential problems with your heating and air conditioning expert. Remember that putting off even minor AC repairs can add up to your household energy costs and end up leading to more serious and costly damage to your system.

4. Clear Out the Condenser

Your air conditioner's condenser is located outside your home, and its primary job is to use exterior air to cool the refrigerant inside to help keep your home cool.

Through the winter months, debris like leaves and twigs can build up inside of it, so scoop any particulates out and check to ensure the drain is clear. Additionally, if any vines or weeds have grown through the unit, be sure to remove these to ensure it functions optimally.

5. Clean Supply Vents

Your supply vents and return grills are designed to help with the proper distribution and circulation of the air in your home.

These units pull in and blow out the air helping to recycle it through the system, and because these are typically located on or near the floor, debris like dust bunnies and particulates can clog the system. So, before you fire up your unit, thoroughly clean them to remove any build-up and help enhance the air quality in your home.

6. Install a Smart Thermostat

Smart or programmable thermostats can help homeowners save tremendously on their energy costs while controlling their heating and cooling system from anywhere, anytime. Smart thermostats can be installed quickly and will pay for themselves as time goes by.
 

A smart thermostat allows homeowners to program their home’s temperature so that it raises or lowers while they are away from home and returns to a comfortable temperature in time for the family to return for the day. Forgot to adjust the setting? No problem! Simply log on to the online application and adjust your thermostat from anywhere.

7. Schedule a Seasonal Inspection

Another great way to increase your system’s efficiency and extend its lifespan is by penciling in regular seasonal maintenance. Imagine the following scenario: You turn on your system on a warm day here or there in spring, and it seems to be working fine.

But when summer comes around and Minnesota is hit with record heat, your system struggles to keep up until it stops blowing cold air altogether. Now you’re left with a hot home and need service fast! Unfortunately, most of the time, that catastrophe began with a minor problem that escalated when it was overlooked.

By scheduling seasonal maintenance inspections, you can catch those small issues that can lead to disaster before the worst happens. During a seasonal AC inspection, our heating and cooling technicians can examine your system for any potential underlying problems and stop them in their tracks.

Contact Our Minnesota Heating and Cooling Pros

Don’t flirt with disaster by overlooking seasonal maintenance. Our Twin Cities heating and cooling technicians can make sure your system is running at top efficiency so you can enjoy a cool, comfortable home all spring and summer long.

You’ll love our friendly, convenient service and fair pricing. Contact us here or give our HVAC technicians a call at 952-445-2820 to connect with a professional air conditioning specialist to learn more. And have a fantastic spring!