Nothing is worse than summer creeping in on you, then finding the hard way that your air conditioner broke.
At this time of year, most HVAC firms are booked solid. Good luck getting it fixed.
To avoid this nightmare-ish scenario; check out this HVAC preventive maintenance checklist, follow it to the letter and thank us later.
Table of Contents
HVAC Preventive Maintenance Checklist
1. Check Your Filters
While it may seem obvious, nothing’s more important than checking on your HVAC’s filters before doing anything else.
Whether it’s your main HVAC, furnace, or heat pump; dirty or clogged filters will make your HVAC work harder to pump air though.
It’ll take more time to cool a room, cost you more energy, which -in turn- will crank up your electricity bill.
Moreover, your HVAC probably won’t last as long due to its damaged equipment.
To avoid this mess, check your filters on a monthly basis.
You can either clean the filters if they’re new or change them if they’re older than 3-4 months.
The perfect time for doing so is early spring, so you don’t start your summer with an old or dirty filter.
2. HVAC Seasonal Maintenance
Research shows that having an HVAC seasonal —or at least an annual- maintenance performed will extend the life of your AC, ensure that it’s working efficiently, and reduce your energy usage.
Schedule a maintenance service one or two months before the summer hits so you’d have your unit in top shape in time.
Seasonal maintenance traditionally includes inspecting and cleaning your unit, and tune-ups for the parts that aren’t doing so well.
Double-check that your evaporator and condenser coils are cleaned as well because these parts are crucial for keeping your energy consumption down.
3. Make Way for Your HVAC
Your HVAC needs its space. Literally.
Your condensing unit needs to have a clear pathway for the air to flow and circulate smoothly.
So make sure to trim any pesky shrubs or plants that might have grown over your condensing unit.
4. Thermostats Are the GOAT
If you want to make sure that your HVAC is ready for the summer, we’re going to conduct a little test with a programmable thermostat.
Step 1
Turn on your AC for 15 minutes when the temperature outdoors is above 80 degrees F/26 degrees C.
Step 2
With clean filters in place, put the thermostat on the supply register next to the cooling equipment for five minutes. Check the temperature.
Step 3
Repeat steps one and two at the return vent.
Step 4
Compare the two temperatures. The air coming out of the AC should be 14 to 20 degrees F cooler than the air going in.
If the temperature difference is less than the suggested range, then there might be a leakage problem, or your AC is low on refrigerant.
If it’s the other way around, there might be a blockage problem that needs to be checked ASAP.
Ready for the Summer?
After following this HVAC preventive maintenance checklist your HVAC is officially ready for the summer.
But is your pool ready? and what about that summer holiday you haven’t planned yet?
Check out our blog for holiday preparations and much more!
